Fakoyejo OlalekanHow do you identify a fake travel agency out of the thousands operating in Nigeria and what do you need to do to avoid falling victim and not be exploited by them?
A fake travel agency can cause you not just your dream of greener pastures but also millions of naira paid to them to facilitate your travel.
Several Nigerians have found themselves on the web of fake travel agents. One such situation was reported in March 2023 when a 20-year-old Nigerian lady was duped of £20,000 by her travel agent after she was arrested upon her arrival in the United Kingdom.
Also, in September 2022, over 4000 applicants interested in travelling to Australia and Canada were duped N300 million by a travel agency in Ekiti State for travel and employment packages.
The applicants paid N58,000 for individual applications and N78,000 for family packages, only to discover that the travel agency was in business to exploit them.
With fraudsters now making inroads into the travel agency market to profit from the desperation of Nigerians to Japa (local parlance for migration), it is important to know how to identify a fake travel agency.
How To Identify Fake Travel Agencies
There are several methods to try if you desire to spot fake travel agencies. The key factors to watch out for are;
(1). No verifiable accreditation or license
There are some travel agencies operating without license nor have they been accredited in Nigeria, but they pose as though they are.
However, you can separate the wheat from the chaff, as a travel agency must be licensed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
In Nigeria, the NCAA is the civil aviation regulatory body responsible for licensing and regulating travel agent activities.
Also, the majority of the travel agencies, about 2000, are registered under an association called, the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA).
A travel agency that doesn’t have an NCAA license, NANTA and International Air Transport Association (IATA) membership certificate is a red flag that shouldn’t be touched with a ten-foot pole.
(2). No brick and mortar presence
We are in the era of digital space, and as such, many businesses are operating without a physical office, to reduce the cost of operation.
But a travel agency shouldn’t be solely found on the internet but should also have a brick and mortar where individuals in need of their services can walk into.
Even though they are called online travel agencies, you shouldn’t bet your hard-earned money on a travel agency without a walk-in centre or office.
A travel agency having a physical office gives you an opportunity you walk into their centre and lay complaints directly, should they delay in responding to your emails and their phone contacts are not reachable, or their phone customer service is not satisfactory.
(3). The Greek gifts
While it costs almost an arm and a leg to travel nowadays due to the rise in foreign exchange rates and hike in Jet fuel, some travel agencies will promise you the world at little to no cost.
Such a travel agency is offering you, an unsuspecting customer, a Greek gift that will come back to bite you in you know where later.
Ensure you compare the travel rates in the market. A travel agency that offers a significantly discounted price compared to the rates offered by other market rivals is a big red flag.
A fake travel agency can smell the desperation of an individual from a mile away, so be careful of a Greek gift.
(4). Hidden clause
The devil is in the details, so before you sign an agreement with a travel agency in Nigeria, dot the i’s and cross the t’s of the contract.
This is because a fake travel agency often includes hidden clauses in their contract that their mouth-watering deals will blind you from seeing.
Hidden clauses of fake travel agencies could turn you into their money-making machine or eventually cost you your travel if they notice you are unwilling to play ball after signing their contract.
(5). Customer reviews
These days, just like there are genuine customer reviews, there are also paid-for customer reviews, as well as reviews done by the staff of a company.
So, this makes it difficult to differentiate genuine customer reviews from fake reviews sponsored by companies themselves, as reviews are now vital to marketing and increasing customer base.
However, to separate the wheat from the chaff, visit the app review page of your preferred agency on Google or App Stores and check the criticism category.
Complaints from customers are always specific about the problems faced while using a travel agency. These complaints also come with ratings as well.
The specific problems listed by customers who have experienced their service will help you know the challenges you will face using a certain travel agency.
FAQs
What are the types of travel agencies?
In the aviation sector, there are various types of travel agencies
- Wholesale travel agencies
- Offline travel agencies
- Niche Travel agencies
- Leisure Travel agencies
- Online travel agencies
- Business Travel agencies.
What are the benefits of a real travel agency?
Away from the fake travel agencies. One thing is certain, a genuine travel agency is a blessing in disguise for many prospective travellers, as their benefits could be likened to divine intervention.
Some of the benefits of genuine travel agencies include the following;
- Help you avoid the stress of searching for the best fares from all airlines on different websites.
- They assist with booking hotel reservations, ensuring you don’t get disappointed upon arrival.
- A travel agency helps you apply for a visa, with your only contribution being the submission of required documents.
- Secure cost-saving flight deals.
- Arrange transportation for you to your preferred destination.
- Travel agencies create your travel itineraries.
- Secure flight tickets and hotels that meet your budget.
- In case of disappointment, you don’t have to struggle to get your money back, travel agencies help obtain refunds and cancellations.
- They provide insurance and currency needs in your destination.
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