Worst Travel Scams

Ever wanted to be your own travel agent? Just think of all the perks—the discounted travel, the familiarization trips to exotic destinations, and, oh, those freebies! Travel-agency credentials can be purchased for a small fee online. They're called card mills, and like travel clubs, they're basically useless—but, alas, completely legal. Common sense tells you they're a scam. No one can really shortcut the hours of training required to become a bona fide travel agent. More often, these card schemes let you get credit for helping your friends book trips through a special website. It's little more than a legalized pyramid scheme. But the only winners are the card mills offering these questionable products. You lose.