Planning a summer vacation? Watch out for these hotel scams before you unpack
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. The pools are open, summer youth sports are in full swing and families across the country are gearing up for their vacations.
But as you look forward to some much-needed relaxation and fun during your summer trip, scammers are primed and ready to take advantage of unsuspecting travelers by tricking you into giving them all-inclusive access to your money and personal information.
To stay safe, the Better Business Bureau wants to make sure folks know how to spot some of the most common scams targeting vacationers at their hotels, resorts, and Airbnbs.
THE FAKE FRONT DESK PHONE CALL
You’ve just checked in to your room, dropped your bags, kicked off your shoes, and switched into vacation mode. You’re ready to relax without a care in the world for the next week.
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But, according to Nicole Cordero with BBB of Eastern Carolinas, that’s exactly the moment scammers are waiting for to catch you with your guard down by cold-calling your room.
“Scammers will impersonate the front desk,” Cordero said. “[They’ll] call you saying there’s incorrect information with your credit card and ask you to read back those numbers.”
She said they want to catch you off guard after a long day of driving to your vacation destination.
“They’re hoping you’re just tired from travelling and are just going to give them the numbers so you can go on [and enjoy] your vacation,” she explained. “But it’s not the front desk at all. So, you are just talking to a criminal.”
Cordero said these calls often come late at night or shortly after you’ve checked in at your hotel or resort.
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“You’ll think, ‘Well, I just talked to them at the front desk’ or ‘I just got in from late night so there might be an issue and I don’t want to deal with it. I want to enjoy my vacation stress-free, so let me just give the front desk my information,” she added.
Once a scammer has that information, they can use it to run up fraudulent charges or commit identity theft.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Cordero said if you get a suspicious call, hang up and call the front desk directly.
Or better yet, walk down to the lobby and speak to someone in person.
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To play it safe, never share your personal or financial information with someone over the phone.
THE PIZZA DELIVERY FLYER SCAM
You might also spot food delivery or room service menu taped to or sometimes placed under your hotel room door. Oftentimes, they will come in the form of a pizza delivery flyer.
Sometimes these flyers will use the name and logo of a legitimate restaurant or business. But the phone number listed on the menu will be different from the number listed when you look up the restaurant online.
Other times, the menu flyers will look legitimate and feature a generic restaurant name but no listed address for that business.
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But beware, Cordero warned, because these are often fake menus. Scammers use them to entice you into calling and giving them your credit card information.
“The convenience of it all is what is getting these people to call and place an order,” she explained. “It’s a delivery order. It’s a few bucks, and then no food will arrive. So, you’ve given your information and payment [info] to a criminal to use.”
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Call the front desk to confirm whether a local restaurant is legitimate, or search for reviews online before placing any orders.
Don’t trust that the number or website listed on the flyer is legitimate. Do your own search for that restaurant online and through social media. Does all the information line up? If not, opt to play it safe and don’t place an order.
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Use delivery and courier services like Grubhub and Uber Eats, where you can check out reviews, photos, full menus, customer reviews and other details before you order.
Typically, hotel rooms and Airbnbs will all come stocked with a guest guidebook created by the hotel or host, listing reputable restaurants for dine-in and/or delivery, as well as local attractions and other helpful information for your stay.
“FREE” WI-FI SCAM
Scammers are also tapping into technology to try and get access to your data by enticing you through a sought-after amenity: “free” Wi-Fi.
They will create fake Wi-Fi networks with names that are similar to a hotel’s Wi-Fi with only a slight difference in spelling or wording. Their goal is that you will be so eager to access free internet that you’ll overlook anything that, at closer glance, indicates a possible red flag.
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“Once you connect, they can see everything that you were doing on your cell phone or your device,” Cordero said. “They’re collecting all your data. That includes s and credit card information if you buy something online during your trip.”
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Always double-check the Wi-Fi name using the hotel or resort’s welcome materials— or ask a staff member directly before connecting. Look for any misspellings, which should instantly raise a red flag that the Wi-Fi network is not legitimate.
Make sure you only connect to secure Wi-Fi networks. Unsecured Wi-Fi networks transmit data without encryption, opening you up to major risks for hacking, malware, and identity theft.
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While travelling, it’s always wise to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN), especially if you are using public Wi-Fi. VPNs encrypt your data and mask your IP address, making it harder for scammers or other third parties to track your activity and access your personal or financial information.
HOW TO TRACK AND REPORT SCAMS
Unfortunately, scammers don’t take vacations. That’s why it’s so important to stay alert and aware of any scams making the rounds.
The Better Business Bureau recommends using its Scam Tracker tool. It allows you to see what scams are happening in the area where you live, or where you’re headed for vacation.
And if you do experience a scam, you can report it to the BBB to help protect others from falling victim.
To report a scam, click here.
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