Spring Break scams: Ohio’s AG is on the case

It’s spring break, you’ve arrived, and the “resort welcome” that was to meet your group at the airport is nowhere to be found. Hoofing it to your digs, the hotel’s front desk has “lost” your reservation. It finally materializes. Sorry, your package isn’t really all-inclusive: booze is extra. Oh yeah, and the package requires your group to spend a day touring time shares.

O.K., so such a chain of events is not likely to befall many spring breakers, but spring break scams do exist, and the fine print certainly has a way of spawning surprises. (I for one have been a victim of the time share caveat on a package to Cancun that seemed too good to be true).

Maybe that is what’s got Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann spooked. Dann issued a news release today telling students to stay vigilant during spring break this year and avoid travel scams, the Associated Press reports.

Beware the low package price, the undisclosed second-ticket requirement and, yes, time share pitches, Dann warns. The release appears short on specific scams, and there doesn’t seem to be much context to explain why the state’s highest ranking law official chose to go to the media with such a bulletin (though I’ve partied with Ohio State folks during spring breaks of yore and can say it’s probably not a bad idea to reach out to the state’s young minds).

Here are some concise ways to protect your wallet from scammers this spring break. The site is obviously run by a packager, but it still makes sense to keep some of this stuff in mind.

And women, beware the guy with the video camera prowling around Fat Tuesday’s, or wherever you happen to be, promising that “no one will see this”…