If it’s time for you to escape on a getaway, keep in mind that scammers love to target those with travel plans. Vacations should be relaxing. Don’t let unexpected scams and travel pitfalls stress you out! There are countless ways one can be scammed while planning travel. With all the R & R you have scheduled, don’t get bogged down worrying about scams. This mindset is what scammers rely on to bilk you of your money.

Before travel:

• Ask details about what is included in prices and look for hidden fees
• If booking online, verify that you are using a credible website and double-check that you are on the correct site, rather than a copycat
• Always do your own research before accepting the word of the person engaged in selling

While on your trip:

• If you are notified about unauthorized credit card charges, contact your credit card issuer directly by calling the number on the back of your card. You might not be checking your statement history, but your credit card company generally understands your purchasing trends and may have fraud protection in place to alert you if they suspect an issue.
• If you are renting a vehicle, know the ins and outs of your own auto insurance coverage. The rental agency will typically offer to sell you their insurance, so be prepared for this when you step up to the reservation desk. Protect yourself further from rental accident damage fraud by photographing the vehicle with on-site identifiers in the background (this is handy if you don’t have a date feature on your camera) both at the time of the initial rental and upon return. That way, if there is a damage dispute, you have photo proof of how the vehicle appeared while in your possession.
• Free Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi that is not password protected could be problematic. Don’t sign into your accounts while using free or unsecure Wi-Fi. Why? You don’t know who is watching your online activity. Keying your password into an account may seem harmless, but scammers tracing your steps can log into your account later and access everything. Sure, it’s nice to have free Wi-Fi, but use it to check the news or browse tourist attractions, not to do your online banking.
• While in a foreign country, you may be asked if you would like the total to be displayed in US dollars. If you say yes, the exchange rate may not be based on the actual currency rate, but based on the rate in the retailer’s system. The retailer receives any amount you pay over the actual exchange rate and you could be charged a conversion fee as well. Credit cards convert the foreign exchange rate based on the actual currency exchange rate, which is more accurate and doesn’t favor either party. Credit cards may also charge a conversion fee, so check the card’s terms before you travel.

While traveling, you don’t have to stress every minute about the possibilities of what might happen, but it will help to keep the above scenarios in mind so that you don’t find yourself in a stressful situation.

Contributing Writer & Photo Credit: Crystal Baldwin