This is one of the most common travel scams. Tricksters create great websites for “new” travel agencies offering amazing deals. Wouldn’t you like to brag to your friends that you went to Barbados for $700?

The scammers, usually using amazing pictures stolen from the Internet to promote their destinations, create fake travel agencies for a month at the time, get hundreds of avid tourists who pay on the spot, and then close down the business.

How to avoid: before you book your next holiday vacation, search on-line for the name of the provider and for several reviews. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Use recommendations from your friends or visit a local travel agency.