Caroline Bologna is a senior reporter covering a variety of lifestyle topics at HuffPost. Based in New York, she is a New Orleans native and graduate of Brown University.
There’s nothing like a scam to put a damper on your hard-earned vacation. In this day and age, the opportunities for people to swindle you out of cash or steal your data seem to be endless.
To help vacationers avoid these scenarios, we asked experts to outline some of the most common travel scams and what to look out for.“One that we saw after the pandemic and certainly still hear about today are the fake travel documents websites,” saidSince many people didn’t travel for a year or two, they let their passports and TSA pre-check status expire.
He also warned about “shoulder surfing” on your travels ― when scammers look over people’s shoulders as they enter their usernames and passwords in a hotel lobby, airport or coffee shop. Use your hand to cover keypads, consider a screen protector and take advantage of two-factor authentication to avoid this situation.Bookings for rental cars, accommodations and even flights can lead unsuspecting travelers into scams.
To counter this scheme, he recommended talking to your family before you leave home and setting up a special code word that you would use only in cases of genuine emergencies.‘Closed’ Tourist Attractions Stressed-out travelers dealing with cancelations and other disruptions are prime targets for this kind of scam.
He urged travelers to keep their belongings secure and never travel with more cash, cards, and documents than they need.“People may ‘accidentally’ spill something on you and then apologize profusely while their accomplice picks your pocket,” Kepnes warned. “Or friendly locals ask you to sign a petition for a ‘worthy’ cause only to then extort you for money after you’ve signed.”
Travelers use these to book nonexistent tickets, flights, accommodations and more before embarking on their journey, only to later discover the fraud.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
BlackRock Issues Major Crypto WarningNew York-based financial giant BlackRock has warned about cryptocurrency scams
Read more »
Houston ranks second in nation for moving scams, new study revealsA new warning as many of you get ready to send your kids off to college: With summer being a busy time for moving, reports of people getting scammed are surging all across the Houston area, leaving many residents vulnerable and out-of-pocket.
Read more »
VA announces new website, call line to protect veterans from scamsVeterans and their families have a new government-wide website meant to protect them from fraud and scams.
Read more »
FBI takes aim at scams with new national awareness campaignAs a national anchor, Chris Stewart brings to air unique stories impacting people across the country each week.
Read more »
Arson attacks cause travel chaos before start of Olympics in Paris, thwarting athletes’ travelArsonists attacked the French high-speed rail network earlyFriday, paralyzing travel to Paris from across the rest of France andEurope for some 800,000 people, including Olympic athletes heading to the grand opening ceremony of the Games in the evening.
Read more »
Travel alert: U.S. warns visitors avoid popular Caribbean travel destinationThe U.S. State Department has updated a warning urging travelers to avoid a popular Caribbean hotspot.
Read more »