Beware Of A Travel Agent Scam That Will Ruin Summer Fun

PALOS VERDES, CA — A travel agent scam has popped up in Los Angeles County. The travel agent offers heavily discounted plane tickets, and the client receives a confirmation but realizes weeks later than it's a con, according to a Los Angeles District Attorney's Office press release.

In the travel agent scam, a thief with a stolen credit card claims to be a travel agent offering discounted airfare. The "agent" agrees to visit the customer at their home or place of work, and purchases the ticket on the airline website in front of the customer.

"It's related to identity theft because it's one of the many things people do with stolen credit card information," Public Information Officer Ricardo Santiago said.

The victim is shown the listed price and then offered a steep discount, the press release said. The fake travel agent purchases the ticket and the customer pays in cash, receiving a real ticket confirmation code.

A few weeks later, the airline declines the ticket because it's been reported as a fraudulent charge on the stolen credit card.

Here are some tips the District Attorney's Office suggests:

• Purchase tickets directly from the airline or through a legitimate travel agent or travel website
• Be wary of discounts and last-minute deals offered by individuals and not the airlines
• Compare prices. If the deal offered by the "travel agent" is significantly less than what is offered elsewhere, it is likely a scam