SKEPTICISM ONLINE

A reader recently wrote to ask how he could check the reliability of a tour offering from a company he found while surfing the Web. His concern is well-justified.  The Internet has opened up a world of travel intelligence to inquiring minds. Some nifty online resources are listed in L.R. Shannon's article on Page E-8 of today's Travel section.  Accessing Web sites and participating in use-net chat-rooms provide a universe of information, even if much of it is of a general nature, dated or of unknowable credibility origins.

And yet, despite this technological accessibility, it's more important than ever for consumers to maintain strong skepticism, both about the information available on sites they visit and travel offers they encounter. The same openness and accessibility that make the Internet so enticing also make it a fertile ground for the misinformed, rank novices, pranksters and outright flimflams.  Since the Web is a largely unregulated information environment, anyone anywhere is essentially free to post whatever information or offer they want, legitimate or otherwise. There are plenty of shady dealers lurking behind that Net, and a .com, .edu, .org or even .gov is no guarantee of good intentions.  Complaints about travel fraud online are up sixfold in the past 12 months. Since travel packages are big-ticket items by the standards of Internet commerce, "buyer beware" may be even more important online than sales considered in person, by mail and, in many ways, even over the telephone.  Outright Web travel frauds tend to fall into two categories. There are e-mailed "special offers," some advising that the recipient has won a contest. The other category is sites advertising false travel deals.  So how can you tell whether an offer is legitimate?  The guidelines for being a cautious consumer on the Web are similar to evaluating direct mail and telemarketing offers.  Be skeptical of any contact you did not initiate. Always demand sufficient time to evaluate printed material and make a buying decision. Preserve a degree of consumer protection by paying with a credit card.  Remember, seeing an offer on the Web isn't the same as reading a printed brochure. Web sites can be changed in an instant. Having a printout of a Web page is not the same as receiving a written offer.  Never judge a company entirely on the strength of its Web site. Great graphics do not guarantee honesty, though poor grammar and misspelled words can certain ly be an indication of a sloppy organization, one that might not be as attentive to details as you'd prefer of someone who's asking for thousands of your dollars as an advance payment for promised travel arrangements.  Sticking to sites of known travel companies and organizations is certainly a safe policy, although there are also plenty of perfectly wonderful, legitimate and often less expensive options appearing every day.  It's also important to know whom you're dealing with. You always can check the origin of any site by visiting www.networksolutions.com, where you can search the data base of Internic, the registry for site names of most recognized Internet domains.  Is the company a member of any governmental or formal tourist organization? You also can check domestic companies with various consumer protection groups such as the USTour Operators Association, the Better Business Bureau or Seller of Travel organizations in California and Florida.  Has the company won any awards from industry groups or been endorsed by trade publications? Is it bonded? Can it provide proof? Find out if there's a consumer protection plan to cover your deposits, and other payments in the event of bankruptcy or nonperformance.  If you're dealing with a foreign company, you can check with its embassy in Washington (www.embassy.org) or national tourism organization (www.towd.com) to find out if there have been any complaints against it.  Good Web sites have other attributes. If visitors are asked to supply private information such as credit card numbers, they should have the option of using an SSL mode (secure server). Some sites also provide safe-shopping guarantees, promising to reimburse the $50 liability a credit card holder incurs if the card information is stolen and used to make fraudulent charges. Reputable e-commerce sites post their privacy policy on every e-commerce site telling what they will do with personal information. Will they sell it to any telemarketer who's interested or keep it private unless you authorize distribution?  And before sending a single penny, ask for some references to contact. References from past customers are important, but the best are from people you know personally. If you maintain a relationship with a travel agent, ask his or her opinion of the tour company and whether the trip you're considering seems legitimate. Finding out what's been written about a company can save a lot of grief, not to mention vacation dollars.  Be wary of deals that are good only if you act immediately, or of those that take your money now but allow 18 months or more to take the trip. The company might be out of business by then.  Also beware of "instant travel agent" offers from companies offering to sell you an agent ID that supposedly will guarantee you discounted rates.  Finally, don't be afraid to trust your instincts. Gut feelings can be a very reliable gauge of whether something is on the up-and-up. But remember the old truth that still rings true: If a travel deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.





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