We are in the midst of summer vacation season. That might mean rest and relaxation for you, but consumer advocates warn that scammers are hard at work looking for opportunities to take advantage of unsuspecting travelers.
According to an article by the Fort Mill Sun, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) is urging vacationers to “take proactive steps to safeguard their wallets, electronic devices, and personal information before and during their trips.”
The agency released an advisory with five ways to protect yourself from travel scams this summer:
- Prioritize Credit Over Debit: Credit cards offer significantly stronger federal consumer fraud protection than debit cards if a card is compromised. It’s also smart to use contactless “tap” features to prevent skimming devices from stealing physical card data.
- Secure Digital Devices: Before leaving home, update your phone operating systems and applications to patch known security flaws. Officials also recommend backing up all data to the cloud or an external drive. It’s also smart to enable location-tracking features like “find my phone” in case a device is lost or stolen.
- Monitor Financial Statements: Closely review bank and credit card accounts for unexpected charges during and after your trip. Immediately report any suspicious activity to your financial institution.
- Skip Social Media: Do not advertise that you are away by posting vacation photos while still on your trip. Consumer advocates recommend setting accounts to private, restricting followers to known individuals, and waiting until returning home to post pictures.
- Watch for Fake Rental Listings: Scammers are savvy, often posting fake listings and taking your money. Experts say you should always read reviews, search the internet to check for duplicate listings, and never pay via wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.
If you think you are a victim of a travel scam or identity theft, file a report with your state Department of Consumer Affairs and the Federal Trade Commission.
Have you ever been the victim of a travel scam? Message The Seniors Trust on Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter) and let us know what advice you would share with someone facing that same situation – or what you do to ensure you do not become a victim.
