Successful vaccine rollouts have made it possible for people to get out and about again. Whether you’re planning a long-delayed vacation or a reunion with family and friends, be wary of scams.
Americans’ excitement about being able to move freely again has attracted the notice of criminals who would like to take your personal information and your money. Here are three scams to watch out for:
Too-cheap vacation packages. You may receive a text or robocall advertising a rock bottom price from a name brand company, reported CNN Travel. Some offer island getaways that include airfare and several nights in a hotel for a few hundred dollars. Don’t fall for it.8 You can find out whether the deal is real by calling the company directly or visiting its website.
Fake rental car companies. There is a shortage of rental cars in the United States. Some scammers are taking advantage of the situation by setting up fake rental car company sites online. Sometimes, they make the sites look like well-known rental car companies. When customers call a phony customer service number, the scammers take their personal information and credit card numbers, reported AARP.9
When booking online, make sure you’re on a real site for a real rental car company. Check the web address and make sure it begins with https:// and the payment page should have lock icon.8
Public Wi-Fi. If you travel to national parks and other remote locations, you may be tempted to log into personal accounts using public Wi-Fi. Resist the temptation. Security for public Wi-Fi networks is often lax or non-existent, making it relatively easy for hackers to gather your data.10
One alternative is to use your smartphone’s personal hot spot to access the Internet.9
Some scams are hard to resist. If you discover you’ve become the victim of an unscrupulous criminal, you can fight back by reporting the incident. You can report the crime to your state’s consumer protection office, as well as the United States Federal Trade Commission.11
