Scammers Don’t Take Vacations

Summer is in full swing and that means fun in the sun: vacations, outdoor activities, home improvement projects, summer jobs and new adventures.

For scammers, though, the summer months also offer increased opportunities to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals. Summer scams can take many forms, from nonexistent vacation rentals to fake concert tickets. Understanding these schemes is crucial to protecting yourself and your loved ones. Here are seven scams to watch for this summer:

1. Vacation Rental Scams
Summertime is prime time for travel and, today, many people look for their vacation rentals online. Many travelers rely on last-minute deals or platforms like Airbnb and VRBO to save money on their trips. But beware: sophisticated scammers create fake listings with stolen photos on legitimate websites, offering properties with a lot of amenities at very attractive prices. Once the victim pays the deposit, the vacation rental listing (and the person posting it) may disappear – and the rental address turns out to be nonexistent.

Don’t fall for it:

• Use reputable rental websites and read reviews
• Never wire money or pay with prepaid cards
• Verify the listing by contacting the property manager directly
• Be suspicious of any deal that seems too good to be true

2. Travel Scams
Travel scams are another common issue, with fraudulent travel agencies and websites offering deals on flights, accommodations and vacation packages. Be on the lookout for too-good-to-be-true offers, like $99 airfare and accommodations in Bermuda or someone claiming they purchased a non-refundable week-long stay in Myrtle Beach and suddenly can’t go… so they’ll sell it to you for an absolute steal. Some summer scammers go so far as to create entirely fake websites (featuring photos of real properties) to reel in their victims. Make sure you avoid shady opportunities and investigate options thoroughly before buying.

In another travel-related scam, fraudsters create phony websites offering discounted travel insurance policies to protect against losses resulting from medical emergencies or trip cancellations. They often target seniors and families. Victims usually discover the fraud when filing a claim for a legitimate travel issue.

Don’t fall for it:

• Research travel agencies and read reviews
• Pay with credit cards that offer better fraud protection
• Verify the legitimacy of travel offers with the airline or hotel
• Verify travel insurance providers through your state's insurance commissioner website before purchasing anything

3. Fake Event Tickets
Summer is the optimal time for outdoor festivals, concerts and sporting events. Unfortunately, scammers also think it is the optimal time to sell counterfeit tickets online, often at steeply discounted prices. Victims of this type of fraud only realize they’ve been duped when they’re turned away at the event or find other people in their seats.

Don’t fall for it:

• Check the event’s official website for authorized ticketing partners
• Buy all tickets from official event websites or authorized sellers
• Never buy tickets from resellers on social media or unverified platforms

4. Home Improvement Scams
The warmer months are the perfect time to spruce up your home. Scammers posing as contractors may contact you and offer discounted “specials” on services like roofing, landscaping, driveway repairs or air conditioning upgrades. They demand upfront payments and will appear to be working right away, only to vanish, never to be heard from (or located) again.

Don’t fall for it:

• Insist on licensed and insured contractors and get multiple quotes
• Ask for references and check them
• See if the company has a website and read reviews
• Never pay the full amount upfront; instead, agree on a schedule for payments to be made as the work progresses

5. Moving Scams
Summer is a popular time to move, especially for recent graduates or families who want their children to finish the school year before relocating. Many people rely on moving companies to help. Moving scams can involve hidden fees for “extras,” final bills that turn out to be much higher than estimates and false liability insurance – something you discover when your possessions are damaged during the move.

Don’t fall for it:

• Check a mover’s license – by law, all interstate movers must be licensed, and some states may also require licenses for local movers
• Make sure the mover has valid insurance in place
• Understand the ins and outs of your contract before signing
• Don’t just look at their star rating; read reviews about previous customers’ experiences
• Get recommendations from people you know and trust, like family and friends

6. Summer Job Scams
Teachers, bus drivers, high school or college students, residents of beach towns and resort areas or anyone with some spare time can usually find part-time work in the summer months. Scammers offer high-paying jobs that require personal information (to be used later for identity theft) or upfront fees for background checks or training materials.

Don’t fall for it:

• Research the company and read reviews on job boards and forums
• Don’t trust any job offers that require you to pay upfront fees
• Never provide your personal information until you’ve verified the legitimacy of the job offer

7. Social Media Scams
Social media scams happen year-round, especially social media account takeovers, which are the most common. But fraudsters also troll social media pages looking for clues that someone is headed out of town for vacation – the perfect time to attempt to burglarize a home. Be mindful of what you post online, especially if you have travel plans. Consider making your page visible only to your confirmed friends or connections and beware of friend requests from accounts you do not recognize (or requests from people you thought you were already connected to; they are likely hacked or spoofed accounts).

Social media scams also include “phishing” and “smishing” attempts (email and text messages that are an attempt to steal your money and identity information). These messages can be convincing because they look like they are from legitimate businesses, such as event organizers, travel agencies, pet sitting services, delivery services or toll payment systems, and will urge you to click a link where you’re prompted to share payment details or other personal information.

Don’t fall for it:

• Be cautious of all unsolicited emails and text messages from anyone who is not in your contacts list
• For email messages, always hover your mouse cursor over the sender’s email address to verify that it is real
• For both email and text messages, watch for grammatical errors or urgent language
• Don’t click on links; instead, visit the company’s official website directly

Protect Yourself.
Unfortunately, the methods used by scammers will only increase in sophistication as technology progresses. To ensure that your summer is a time for relaxation and enjoyment, protect yourself and your family by staying informed about the latest scams, being skeptical of anything that seems too good to be true, verifying sources, and reporting any scams that you encounter to the relevant authorities. (Your financial institution can guide you through the dispute process for fraudulent charges and help secure your banking credentials. For suspected identity theft, file detailed reports with your local police department and visit IdentityTheft.gov.) 

Questions? Contact David Toll in Drexel’s Office of Gift Planning, at 215.895.1882 or giftplanning@drexel.edu.