Traveling is a lot of fun, but don't let your vacation fall victim to scams, world events or changing regulations. By staying informed and being a careful consumer, your dream vacation can be everything you want it to be.

FEATURE: What You Should Know about Travel Industry Card Mills

It's easy to see why the allure of travel to exotic destinations at reduced rates and with special levels of service, often accompanied by a promise of actually making money, could be appealing. Ads promise glamour and the high life at a bargain, and the chance to make money with little effort. But the allure is a façade, and the promise an illusion perpetuated by sellers of deceptive credentials — card mills. These businesses sell deceptive identification cards, sometimes accompanied by a package of worthless "training" materials that falsely identify the purchaser as a "travel agent."
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Consumer Travel Alerts

Fraud Alert: Unauthorized Web Sites Charging for Free Visa Waiver Program Information
Beginning Jan. 12, 2009, all nationals and citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries will be required by law to obtain a travel authorization prior to initiating travel to the United States under the VWP. VWP travelers should be aware that unauthorized third-parties have established Web sites, which charge visitors seeking to travel to the United States under the VWP. More details.

Global Entry Program Now Available at Select US Airports
Global Entry is a new, voluntary trusted traveler pilot program open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents that allows program members to enter the United States more quickly by using automated kiosks located in the U.S. Arrivals area of select airports. More details.

Citizens of the 27 Visa Waiver Program countries now can obtain an electronic system for travel authorization as of Aug. 1, 2008 by visiting https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/.
Last year Congress enacted legislation to strengthen and expand the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The new law requires that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) develop an electronic system for travel authorization (ESTA) to gather biographic information from nationals of the 27 existing VWP countries traveling to the U.S. in advance of their visit. More details.

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