It’s heartbreaking that so many Americans fall victim to cyber travel scams. And the problem is growing. As today’s travelers search online for travel bargains and book travel online, it’s more important than ever to take precautions to protect yourself and your wallet. Travel scams, especially online, have increased dramatically. In fact, according to a recent report, travel has the second highest number of fraud attempts. From ATMs to VPNs to avoiding travel scammers, we’re here to help you navigate the landscape safely.
We all live online nowadays but you need to be careful
The Growing Problem of Cyber Travel Scams
A McAfee study reported 35 percent of adults have had their hard-earned travel money stolen from them, with 60 percent losing up to $1,000 and 40 percent losing $1,000 or more. It’s important to be aware of cyber travel scams so you can protect yourselves and loved ones from becoming part of those statistics when you book travel online.
Fifteen percent of U.S. adults have been tricked into making payments through fraudulent platforms, and 22 percent have had their identity stolen while booking online. Shockingly, eight percent of these victims provided their passport information and 14 percent provided other personal identification information on a fake website. We want to help you avoid this.
You want to be here on vacation, not at the police station reporting a crime.
What to Do
Look for red flags such as prices that are too good to be true, pressure to book immediately, limited contact information, negative online reviews, or vague contract terms. Look at the return email address. Legitimate vendors usually use official email addresses from the company. If you don’t fully understand an offer, don’t buy it until you do.
When we are in doubt, we check with third party sources such as Trustpilot.
If you cannot see the contract first, run away and look for other options. A good travel agent or supplier will not do these things.
What about a sale that ends soon? Of course, your travel agent should make you aware of a deadline to take advantage of a sale, but you should not feel pressured. In fact, a veteran advisor will tell you if the cruise line has a history of renewing the same sale so you can make an informed decision.
Cost versus Value
When you book travel online, do not just click at the lowest price. Be sure you are on a legitimate site and research the company. Not only are there cyber travel scams, but there are also deals that are not really deals.
Even with a legitimate offer you should evaluate what is included, comparing apples-to-apples. This can take time and research, but it beats losing your money and ruining your vacation. If you don’t have the time or knowledge to protect yourself, work with a trusted travel agent who can help you avoid scams and get the best value.
If you do book, use a credit card not a debit card. Credit cards have dispute processes to refund your money if you did not get what you paid for. But be sure to do it within the timelines set by your credit card company.
While You Travel
It’s understandable that people may become less security conscious while on vacation – after all, the goal of a holiday is to relax and enjoy the experience. However, it’s important to remain mindful of the potential risks of cybercrime when travelling.
We strongly encourage you to protect yourself by following these rules:
- Do not log into an unsecured Wi-Fi network. Not ever.
- Never use a USB charging port at an airport, train station, or other public places. They are notorious for “juice jacking.” Thieves steal information from your phone when you use these free chargers. Even the FBI issued a warning about these charging stations. Instead, carry your own charger for your devices. We recommend some good ones in this post.
- Do not leave your streaming accounts logged in when checking out of your accommodations.
- Pay close attention to your children’s internet use. They can easily fall prey to a scam.
Using ATMs
- When using ATMs, make sure no one is around. Only visit ATMs in well-lit, public areas, especially if you’re visiting at night. Remain alert once you have withdrawn your money.
- Beware of card skimmers, devices used by fraudsters to steal your card information. They typically need both your card number and your PIN to work. This means you should inspect the card slot and the keypad before using any ATM. Skimmers can be challenging to discern as they often blend into the machine itself. Look out for any parts that appear unnecessarily bulky, loose, or inconspicuous signs like tape, glue, or scratches. These could potentially signal a card skimmer is present. If in doubt, find another ATM.
Use a VPN
A VPN is a virtual private network which encrypts your data and masking your IP addresses. This hides your browsing activity, identity, and location, allowing for greater privacy.
Even though almost 90% of Americans express worry about their identities being stolen while travelling, only 40 percent use a VPN. It’s important to remember that while taking a break from the everyday can be a great way to relax and recharge, it’s also important to take steps to protect your identity while travelling. Taking the time to use a secure Wi-Fi connection, use a VPN, and monitor your online identity can help to ensure your holiday is safe and enjoyable.
There are many excellent VPNs. We have used Private Internet Access as our VPN for years. We find it is easy to use and affords us a high level of security. If you sign up with this link you can get 30 days free.
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