Keep risks to a minimum and you'll find your dream holiday

How risky is it to buy travel online? The downside was highlighted at the International Bar Association conference in Auckland.

Lawyers quoted cases of people pre-paying over the internet for tickets or services which never materialised and then finding the travel agency had disappeared.

But online travel expert Chris Adams - who lives in Golden, Colorado, in the United States but works for Auckland-based Jasons Travel Media - reckons travellers who follow a few simple rules should be fine.

Adams' main rule - which doesn't just apply to internet booking - is to "shop with known brands or sites".

His advice is:

* Try to stick with brands that you know.

* Check to ensure you are on a legitimate website. Look for street addresses, phone numbers, ratings, memberships and links from credible sites.

* If in doubt, pick up the phone and call. "Chatting to the owner or manager by phone allows you to ask questions and build the confidence to proceed to a booking."

* If you do deal with small operations, contact them through major, reputable travel sites.

* Be sure you know what you are buying and what the conditions are for changes or cancellations. Disputes over the terms of the purchase represent a far bigger issue than fraud.

* Use a credit card. All major credit card companies have policies to protect or reduce your losses if you are the victim of fraud. For example, American Express has a guarantee that they will cover any fraud from online purchases.

* Be careful who has access to your card details. Check your statement carefully and dispute any unknown charges.

Adams says the amount of fraud against online customers is fairly small.

"The vast majority of online fraud is being inflicted on web retailers [by the dishonest use of often stolen credit card information] rather than on end customers from fraudulent vendors."

Adams remains a fan of internet booking which, he says, "has allowed travellers to take control of their holiday planning, to be far more knowledgeable and to access better value and prices".

He says travellers who follow his tips should have few problems.