In recent years, the travel industry has been plagued by a number of scams. In general, if a deal sounds too good to be true, there's probably a catch.

There are two common types of travel scams. The classic rip-off begins with a phone call telling you that you've won a free trip. Then you are asked to give your credit card number or have a check or cash ready for a messenger the following day to cover the "processing fee," and you are told to pick three dates. You probably wait for "processing" only to find that the dates you want are impossible. So you keep trying other dates until one day there's no answer; the company has gone out of business. If you are persistent early on, you may be lucky-or unlucky-enough to actually take the trip. Then you may find yourselves in a room so awful that you'll agree to pay to "upgrade" to another hotel, which you could have booked far more cheaply on your own. So your free trip, if you get it, could cost you more than a legitimate package tour.

A more subtle rip-off comes as a result of deceptive advertising. An ad may highlight a low price for part of a trip. But it will be tied to a whole package that, if you're lucky, will be fairly priced-certainly not a bargain.

Of course, there are true bargains, but they can be difficult to evaluate. Restrictions, special conditions, and small-print add-ons can make the final price much higher than you'd expect. Or worse, the company you're dealing with may be a fly-by-night fraud that will take your money and disappear before you are even scheduled to travel. The American Society of Travel Agents suggests you be aware of the following warning signs:

1. The price seems unbelievably favorable.
2. You're notified by mail or phone that you've won a contest you haven't entered.
3. A telemarketer pressures you to make an immediate decision and give your credit card number or have a check ready for a messenger the following morning.
4. The seller is not willing to give her full name and the company name, street address (not just a post office box), and phone number.
5. The seller wants you to commit money before receiving complete information about the offer, including the total cost, terms, and conditions in writing.
6. Travel suppliers, such as airlines and hotels, are not listed by name (only by vague descriptions such as "major airlines" or "first-class hotels").
7. The "free" offer is linked to a required purchase or fee to join a club or cover administrative costs.
8. You or your travel companion must purchase additional travel services at unspecified costs.
9. You must wait sixty days to book your travel dates but must pay a deposit or make a purchase immediately.

If you are suspicious or get hooked, get in touch with the American Society of Travel Agent's Consumer Affairs Department at 703-739-2782, the Federal Trade Commission at 202-328-3650, your state's attorney general, or the local FBI office. If you paid by credit card, contact your card issuer to see if you can dispute the charges. Federal law generally places the burden on credit card companies for delivery of goods charged on their cards.

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