Summer
is the perfect time to take that family or romantic vacation, but you
need to watch out for fraudsters who want to kick sand in your face with
these scams. Look out for the red flags and follow these consumer tips
to not get burned from cybersecurity and identity theft expert Adam
Levin, author of Amazon Best Seller "Swiped".
1. Fake Deals
In many destinations it’s
not uncommon to be offered deals on luxury items, and many ports of call
will boast several completely legitimate retailers of gem stones and
jewelry as well as local handicraft and antiques. Unfortunately, it’s
also not uncommon to be approached by a freelancer offering these
valuables for the deal of your life.
When it comes to larger
items, a common scam tactic is for the seller to take a percentage of
the agreed sale price, the rest being payable on delivery — sometimes
after endless haggling where you are made to feel like an excellent
negotiator. The outcome: You lose the down payment, as well as the
precious vacation time you wasted waiting for a delivery that never
comes.
How to Avoid the Scam: Buyer
beware. You wouldn’t buy a pearl, a diamond or an antique carpet from
some guy who approached you in the parking lot of your local
supermarket, would you? So what’s different about a vacation spot?
Resist the temptation and stick to shopping at reputable retailers in
the area.
2. Front Desk Scam
You get a call from the
front desk a few hours after a late check in, probably after midnight.
You are told that the credit card number you provided has been declined
or an error was made when they keyed in your information. The caller
then asks you to read the card number again or they request another card
number.
How to Avoid the Scam: Hang up, and go back to sleep. The
chances that a hospitality worker would wake you up in this fashion are
slim to none. If you’re worried, you should still hang up, then call the
front desk yourself.
3. Fake Police
You may be approached by
someone posing as a police officer. He demands to see your
identification (and finds fault with it) or accuses you of having
committed a crime. But, wanting to be a good host, he is willing to
overlook the incident if you could see your way to slipping him a little
cold hard cash.
How to Avoid the Scam:
As a matter of course, make it your business to know where the local
police station is, as well as the local hospital — and U.S. Embassy if
you are traveling abroad. That way, if you’re approached by a purported
law enforcement official seeking instant justice, you can offer to drive
yourself to the precinct to pay the requested fine.
4. Photo Bombs
You are walking along and
Captain Jack Sparrow is standing there, beckoning to your children. He
wants you to take a picture as a keepsake. As soon as you do, you’re
informed of the fee.
In another variant, a
bystander offers to click a photo of you and your significant others.
You hand over your phone, with the security code punched in, and as you
strike just the right pose, the helpful photog runs away — with your
phone. At first blush this may seem like the mere loss of hardware until
you have that “oops! moment” and remember how much personally identifiable (and highly bankable) information you have stored on it.
How to Avoid the Scam:
Just say no. If you really want that picture with Jack, negotiate the
fee before you take any pictures. And, for those Kodak moments, buy a
selfie stick.
5. Taxi Fare Scam
You hail a taxi and tell
them where you want to go. They take you there, but the fare seems high.
There are a few reasons this may be happening, but the two most common
are rigged meters and needlessly long routes.
How to Avoid the Scam: Only take licensed taxis, and ask how
much the fare will be before you get in. It’s also a good idea to ask
locals you trust (such as the concierge at your hotel) how much this or
that trip should cost.
6. The ‘Closed’ Hotel Scam
You hop in a taxi at the
airport and give them the name of the hotel where you have a
reservation, only to be told by the driver that the place is
unexpectedly closed, but he knows a comparable hotel with a vacancy.
How to Avoid the Scam: Find another taxi.
7. The Take-Out Fake-Out
You finally get to your
hotel room and you’re famished. Room service is expensive, closed or
non-existent, but alas there is a menu! It was either slid under your
door, or strategically placed on the desk by an accomplice with a key to
your room. Unfortunately, the number on that menu is fake — it belongs
to a scam artist who is all too eager to take your order while stealing
your credit card
information. An hour passes, your hunger is off the chart and your
patience — as well as your available credit — has been drained.
How to Avoid the Scam: Always call the front desk to confirm if the restaurant is legit before dialing that number.
8. Recreation Rental Scam
You rent a bicycle or a
scooter, and the attendant gives you a lock and key. Off you go! You
lock up your rental to get lunch during your adventure, and return to
find the rental(s) gone — likely taken by the very same attendant, who
also had a key to your lock. You are stuck with a hefty fee, if not the
replacement cost of the item you rented.
How to Avoid the Scam:
Don’t rent anything from anyone you haven’t checked out with locals you
trust and make sure you have a written contract that clearly states
what happens if the item is lost or damaged or stolen.
If you have reason to believe your payment or personal information was compromised, you should monitor your financial accounts — and your credit. A sudden drop in your credit scores is a sign your identity has been stolen. You can see two of your credit scores for free, updated each month, on Credit.com.
ADAM LEVIN
Adam K. Levin is
a consumer advocate with more than 30 years of experience and is a
nationally recognized expert on security, privacy, identity theft,
fraud, and personal finance. A former Director of the New Jersey
Division of Consumer Affairs, Mr. Levin is Chairman and founder
of IDT911 (IDentity Theft 911) and co-founder of Credit.com. Adam Levin is the author of Amazon Best Selling Book "Swiped", in book stores now. Order Your Copy Today! Click here https://adamlevin.com/swiped-book-adam-levin/
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