The Saskatchewan government warned residents this week about scammers selling discount travel packages. The government press release is reprinted below:

The recent cold snap has people dreaming of sun and sand but the Consumer Protection Division of the Saskatchewan Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority reminds consumers to be aware of scam artists claiming to sell discount travel packages.

Callers claiming to represent Luxury Getaway Group have been offering travel packages to people in Saskatchewan. Luxury Getaway Group is not licensed as a direct seller.

Unsolicited sales calls are considered direct sales under The Direct Sellers Act.  If a salesperson or company calls you to sell something, they are required to have a licence.

Red flags include:

• Unsolicited phone calls or mailers that offer travel packages that sound too good to be true.
• High pressure sales – If a caller pressures you to “buy now or lose out on a limited time offer”, you should be wary.

Protect yourself by:

• Asking for the licence number and confirming it is valid on www.fcaa.gov.sk.ca/fcaa411/.
• Not giving out your credit card number over the phone unless you initiate the call and know who you are calling.
• Checking with the Better Business Bureau and researching the company for free online at www.bbb.org/saskatchewan/.

If you think you are the target of a travel package scam, record the date and time of the call, the name of the telemarketer, their phone number, website or additional identification information and contact the Consumer Protection Division at consumerprotection@gov.sk.ca or toll free at 1-877-880-5550.

Like the toucan below, captured in a shot on a trip south, keep your eyes open!