Atlantic Blog

Have any fun summer vacation plans?

It's been hot and humid, and scammers are taking advantage of the warm weather. They're not relaxing on the beach, kicking back with a cold drink; they're looking for new victims. Everyone deserves a vacation, but no one deserves to be scammed. Thieves know that during vacation season, people are in unfamiliar locations, looking to save money, and that their guard is often lowered, letting them strike.

You should still be excited about your summer plans, but it's important to also make sure that you keep yourself safe and protect your finances from people looking to take advantage of you. Whether you're globetrotting this summer, coming home from college to work and relax, or planning a relaxing staycation, there are a few summertime scams for you to watch out for, but don't worry, there are ways to keep you and your money safe.

Watch Out for Travel Scams

Some of us love to travel, but if you're going to be spending money, jet-setting, or leaving the country, you have to be able to recognize the red flags of common scams. By familiarizing yourself with these common scams and their red flags, you can take control of your safety and ensure a scam-free journey.

Free Vacations:

You're going about your day and your phone rings; you don't recognize the number - but when you answer you discover you've won a free vacation! You don't remember entering any contests but it's a FREE VACATION! Well...not quite.

Cold calls and scam calls are more popular than ever. These scams begin with you receiving a phone call, email, or text stating that you've won a free vacation. If you respond, you'll quickly discover that "free" isn't really free – you'll have to pay fees and taxes before you can claim your prize.

Rental Scams:

You have a nice long weekend, and you want to spend it relaxing by a lake, but is the cabin you booked real? There are many websites available to book a rental home for your upcoming vacation. Scammers are criminals of opportunity, so they've begun to create listings for places that aren't actually available for rent, or they hijack legitimate rentals and list them as their own. The property ends up being double booked, you're left with no place to stay, and your money is gone. Make sure you only make reservations on reputable websites from verified listers.

Ride-Hailing Cheats:

No matter where you are in the world, you'll probably need to take a car ride. Some taxi drivers will prey on tourists and overcharge travelers who don't know better. If you plan on taking a taxi during your stay, ask the hotel staff or your rental owner how much a ride should typically cost. Even if you plan to use ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft, there are still safety precautions you need to take. Ensure you're getting into the right car by matching the make and model, license plate number, and driver name and photo with what is provided within the app. You can also ask the driver to confirm who they are picking up before getting into the car to ensure it's the right vehicle.

Free "Gifts":

You're walking, minding your own business, and suddenly, someone approaches you and places a bracelet, necklace, hat, or other item on you, hands you a flower, or gives you some other token and claims that it is a gift. Then, once you have it on you or in your hand, they demand money for the item. If you're like me, the anxiety of the situation might make you want to give in just to avoid a scene, but don't do that! Don't take anything from anyone or accept anything for free. Give the item back to them and walk away.

Pickpockets:

A stranger starts chatting with you, they're warm, they're friendly, and while you're not paying attention someone else is brushing by and picking your pocket. You probably won't even notice until you go to pull out your phone or wallet, and it's missing.

There are many variations of this scam. They may spill something on you, claim you have something on your shoe, tell you that you dropped some money or other item, or use some other distraction tactic. Be aware of anyone getting too close to you, bumping into you, or approaching you unwarranted.

Unsafe Wi-Fi

Connecting to public unprotected Wi-Fi provided by airlines, at cafes, or other public locations might seem like a great way to access the internet, but it's also dangerous. It's important that you never access your bank accounts or private information while connected to public Wi-Fi; there's always a chance that a logger might capture your login information. One way to protect yourself is to use a VPN, refrain from auto-joining hot spots, and not enter personal/payment details into a site you're unsure of.

Job Scams

For students returning home for the summer or long-term travelers seeking to immerse themselves in their new locale, seasonal job opportunities can be a great way to supplement your income. But beware of summer job scams and keep an eye out for these common warning signs.

• Vague job descriptions.
• Promises of high earnings with little to no experience required.
• Upfront fees for equipment, software, or training.
• Guaranteed or immediate hiring with no interview process.
• They only pay through payment services like CashApp or Venmo.
• They only communicate through messaging services like WhatsApp.

Tips for Traveling with Cash

No matter where your summer travels take you, avoid handling large amounts of cash. This behavior will surely attract unwanted attention and could make you a prime target for thieves. Instead, follow these tips to stay safe on your vacation.

• Keep Cash Small: Only carry a small amount of money on you at a time and limit it to smaller bills. Keep a portion of your cash in a secure location, such as your hotel safe.
• Locate a Safe ATM: If you need to access an ATM while traveling, try to use one at a reputable financial institution or business rather than a standalone machine. Look for ATMs in a well-lit, high-traffic location so you and bystanders are more likely to notice anything suspicious.
• Choose Cards Over Cash: If you don't specifically need cash for anything during your trip, consider limiting your wallet to just cards. By eliminating the possibility of being seen handling money, you reduce your risk of theft.
• Keep Your Wallet Light: While you’re cleaning out your wallet, make sure to remove identification cards, like your SSN or member identification, so that if your wallet does get stolen, you don’t have to worry about your identity also being stolen.

Stay Safe with Debit & Credit Cards

Relying on debit or credit cards is much safer than carrying cash – especially in unfamiliar places like traveling abroad. However, there are extra precautions you can take to ensure your vacation isn't ruined if your wallet is lost or stolen. If you do lose your cards, make sure to report it to us so we can help!

• Minimize Risk: Limit the number of cards you carry at a time. Don't bring every card in your wallet. Instead, keep one card in your wallet and store the others in a secure place, such as your hotel safe.
• Bring Backups: You can also carry a second card in a different location (like a bag or hidden pocket) as an extra precaution in case your wallet is lost or stolen, or if there is a problem with your other card.
• Enable Alerts: Set up alerts for your card transactions. If your card is lost or stolen, you'll be notified of any unauthorized charges, and you can take immediate action to rectify the situation and mitigate potential losses.

We're Here to Help!

Vacation season is upon us, and we want to ensure you have a fun and memorable experience. With a bit of planning and taking a few extra precautions, you'll be able to enjoy yourself and keep your money safe.  

If you plan to travel outside the country this summer, you can set travel notices in our Digital Banking app to make sure that your transactions don’t get flagged as potential fraud. If you believe you were a victim of a scam, we're here to help. Please contact us immediately by visiting any of our branch locations or calling 800-834-0432.

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Each individual’s financial situation is unique, and readers are encouraged to contact the Credit Union when seeking financial advice on the products and services discussed. This article is for educational purposes only; the authors assume no legal responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of the contents.