Scambook Reports Two New Scams, And How To Avoid Them

Any online purchase bears the risk of a scam, but Scambook wants to ease that danger as much as possible.

The complaint resolution site warns travelers about new scams that have cropped up online. Users can file a complaint against a company or person, and give detailed accounts about how they were scammed, and what to look out for.

Recently, Scambook has reported two fresh scams hitting email inboxes and travel ticket purchase sites.

The first promotes a non-existent airline called US Airlines, offering free plane tickets available for redemption upon calling a hotline and providing some personal information.

The second is a scam that poses as online ticket buying site Travelocity. But it isn't: it's travelocity-a bunk site that uses the company's name and logo, but upon closer inspection of the fine print, reveals each promotion travelocity tries to sell off isn't, in fact, endorsed by Travelocity.

The Boston Herald says these offers are throwaways, and to ignore them upon receipt.

"These are classic phishing scams designed to get your personal information," they report.

Here is some advice from Scambook on how to spot and deal with an online travel scam.

1. Look up the return address.

If you receive an email claiming to be an airline or travel service but it has a funny return address that might not align with the company's official one, it is probably a scam. If a personal email is received, Google the name of the sender, or the email address, to verify if it is, in fact, a real person, or just a bot.

2. Read the fine print.

Grab your glasses if you have to, but always look very closely at the fine print. It is essential to stay vigilant about processing fees or other financial restraints: truly free offers are just that-truly free.

3. As a rule of thumb: never give personal information or wire money.

This is the most obvious and classic kind of scam-the kind that simply takes your cash. Don't ever transfer funds or give out credit card information to unknown prizes and notifications. Background check and do research first. It doesn't hurt to contact the airline, ticket provider or carrier upon receiving such letters.