Protect Your Summer Trip From Scammers
Security
Summer is prime time for getaways and last-minute deals. Unfortunately, it’s also a busy season for scammers, who know travelers are searching for affordable rentals.
Before you reserve a vacation rental, take time to verify the listing. Scammers often copy real photos from legitimate rental sites, create fake listings, and pressure travelers to pay before they realize something is wrong. Often scammers will create additional urgency to “not lose out” on this great deal and guide you to the payment option. It is always important to pause and really review the transaction before sending the payment.
Know before you go
Before booking, take a few simple steps:
- Verify rentals: Search the address, compare photos across trusted sites, and confirm the property actually exists.
- Check URLs: Watch for misspellings; strange web addresses; or links sent by text, email, or social media.
- Research companies: Look up the travel company, rental host, or booking site before sharing personal or payment information.
- Avoid pressure tactics: Be wary of anyone pushing you to “book now” or pay immediately to secure a deal.
- Use secure payment: Pay with a credit card when possible. Avoid gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or other hard-to-recover payment methods.
Also, take steps to protect your accounts on the go:
- Be careful at ATMs: Use machines inside banks or secure locations, and shield your PIN from the site of people nearby. Check for anything unusual around the card reader.
- Avoid public Wi-Fi for banking: If you access financial accounts, use your mobile network or a secure VPN.
- Watch for too-good-to-be-true offers: Luxury accommodations at unusually low prices? Probably a scam.
- Question unusual payment requests: Gift cards, crypto, or urgent transfers are major red flags.
A little extra caution can help keep your vacation memories focused on the fun, not fraud.
