Travel scams: From unscrupulous 'agents' to fake plane tickets, here's how to spot and avoid them

There's no such thing as a pleasant scam, but those involving travel seem to hit extra hard - especially when victims only find out days before departure. Or, worse, at the airport.

Unfortunately, travel scams make perfect sense.

There are few better lures than white-sand beaches, hot air balloon rides, or, as was recently the case, a long-awaited holy pilgrimage trip. Prospective travellers are prepared to spend in the multiple thousands for these, given the emotive and often impulsive nature of travel bookings. And worse still, the travel industry has fewer regulations than other sectors.