Office Overview | Victim Services | Press Room | Community Resources | What's New | Careers | Juvenile Justice | Contact

State's Attorney Alvarez Cautions Consumers to Beware
of Travel Scams Before Booking Winter Vacations

Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez warns consumers to do their homework before selecting a travel agency or tour promoter to prevent turning a dream vacation into a nightmare.

Consumer complaints about travel providers are among the most common situations reviewed by the State’s Attorney’s Consumer Fraud Unit, according to Alvarez. “Most travel companies are operated honestly and professionally, but as in any profession, there can be those individuals who prey on unsuspecting consumers,” Alvarez said.
  
The State’s Attorney’s Consumer Fraud Unit may be able to help citizens recover their losses, prosecute the person or business responsible for the fraud, and prevent other members of the public from becoming a victim of travel-related fraud, according to Alvarez.

If you believe that you are the victim of fraud involving the purchase of a vacation from a travel agent or promoter, you should contact the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, Consumer Fraud Unit at 312/603-8700.

The Consumer Fraud Unit recommends the following precautions before purchasing travel services from a travel agent or promoter:

BUSINESS CHECK:  Check the reputation of the travel service, especially out-of-state businesses.  Contact the Better Business Bureau of Chicago & Northern Illinois, Inc. (www.chicago.bbb.org) at 312/832-0500 to obtain a reliability report about the travel agency or tour operator.     

RELAX:  Don’t feel pressured by requests for an immediate decision or a statement that an offer is good “only if you act now.”  Compare the offers of a number of travel services before selecting the most attractive package.     

SOLICITATIONS BY TELEPHONE, POSTCARD, OR LETTER:  Be careful of travel
solicitations by telephone, postcard, or letter claiming you’ve won a “free” trip or can get “special discounts” on hotels and airfares.  Too frequently you may end up paying something for the advertised “free” trip, and the so called “discounted” tour package may actually be more expensive than if you had arranged the trip from a traditional travel agent or tour operator.  

REDEMPTION OF TRAVEL VOUCHERS OR CERTIFICATES:  Be wary of travel offers that ask you to redeem a voucher or certificate, especially from out-of-state companies.  Such certificates and vouchers are usually valid only for restricted times and on a space-available basis.  Added costs for taxes, handling fees, meals, or other conditions of the voucher or certificate may significantly increase the total cost of your trip.

USE A CREDIT CARD:  You can partially protect yourself by using a credit card to purchase travel services.  If you don’t get what you paid for, contact the credit issuer, in writing, and attempt to get the charges reversed.  In general, you have sixty (60) days to dispute a credit card charge, and this time period begins to run when you receive the credit card statement.

GET IT IN WRITING:  Don’t rely on oral promises from the travel service.  Request copies of any brochures and contracts before purchasing your vacation. 

TRIP CANCELLATION POLICIES:  Find out about trip cancellation policies, and get such policies in writing.

CONSUMER PROTECTION PLAN:  Inquire if a travel service has a consumer protection plan.  Don’t do business with a travel agency or tour operator unless the company has a consumer protection plan or maintains an escrow account where your deposit is held.