Mind Uncharted Explore. Discover. Learn.
Scammers Taking Advantage of Travelers During Memorial Day Weekend
With the Memorial Day Weekend marking the unofficial start of summer, many are ready to hit the road or fly the friendly skies for an enjoyable getaway. However, scammers are taking advantage of the itch to travel, so they can take off with your money.
Travel Numbers Creeping Back Up
The American Automobile Association says whether it’s by air or highway, travel numbers are creeping back up to pre-pandemic levels. As a result, scammers are creating fake listings to offer low prices, which can be tempting for travelers who are looking to save money.
Fake Listings for Vacation Rental Services
That includes ads for some of the most popular vacation rental services like Airbnb and Vrbo. However, scammers are creating fake listings, so once travelers turn around and pay for the rental, they may find out that the property doesn’t even exist, or it’s not as it was advertised. It’s difficult to avoid giving those people a platform, but Airbnb and Vrbo are working hard to remove these listings.
Imitating Hotel and Travel Site Scams
If vacation rental homes aren’t your thing and you’d rather stay in a hotel, scammers have found a way to imitate those sites too. They’re even creating their own third-party airline booking sites in an attempt to get you to bundle your travel accommodations, which means more money for them. They’ll set up fake sites and offer great deals on travel or hotels to get you to enter your credit card information or your travel details. However, they’re not affiliated with the site, hotel, or airline.
Booking Directly from the Hotel’s Website or Giving Them a Call
To avoid booking a hotel reservation that doesn’t really exist, consider not booking through third-party sites and book directly from the hotel’s website or give them a call.
Requesting a Copy of the Driver’s License or Passport
If you want to avoid getting duped on a rental home, ask the person that you are potentially renting from to provide proof of ownership of that property. You can request a copy of the driver’s license or passport, and then if you have any doubts, simply don’t book the property.
Shimmers, the Latest Credit Card Skimmers
Remember credit card skimmers? The devices use to steal your card’s information that can be attached to ATMs? They’re still around and now they’re even smaller; they’re called shimmers, and they’re placed inside the card reader. Before you insert your card, quickly scan the machine for obvious signs of tampering like holes, bubbles of glue, or a displaced keyboard. If it seems off, don’t use it.
Let Your Bank Know Ahead of Time
If you’re traveling out of the country or even out of state, it doesn’t hurt to let your bank know ahead of time. Use a credit card wherever possible, not a debit card just because of the way the fraud works, and your liability is much different. Of course, check with your bank or your credit card company to make sure.
