Airports might seem like frenetic, disorienting places, but there’s a lot of very precise orchestration taking place behind the scenes.
Scam Alert: 11 Things You Should Avoid While Traveling
29.02.2024 - 23:08 / forbes.com
Scamming is on the rise. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), people lost $10 billion to scams in 2023—a $1 billion jump over 2022 and the highest amount ever recorded.
One of the major areas where people are getting scammed? Travel. The FTC received more than 55,000 reports of travel fraud (including timeshare properties). According to a recent survey by McAfee, the security software company, one in three travelers have been scammed—and a third of them lost $1,000 or more.
And even though travelers are aware of the risks, they’re not always staying on top of things. “In total, 61% of people are more concerned about digital threats than physical ones, such as being pickpocketed, and 85% of adults hold either some or high concern around their identity being compromised as part of their travel. Despite this, 48% admitted to being less security conscious when on holiday,” Cagla Ruacan, McAfee’s head of product strategy, product marketing and insights, told me in an interview. “Whether it’s connecting to Wi-Fi networks even though they look a bit suspicious (22%), using a free USB charging port at an airport or train station (26%) or leaving their Netflix account logged in after checking out of their accommodation (17%), significant numbers of people have engaged in activities that could put them at increased risk of crime while traveling.”
So how can you protect yourself while you’re traveling? I interviewed several experts to get some smart tips.
Treat unexpected requests with suspicion: Receiving a confirmation message or email means your payment information has been accepted and your booking is finalized. With this simple fact in mind, treat any emails or in-platform messages you get after making a booking claiming payment issues with a very high degree of suspicion. “Don’t engage—instead, directly contact your hotel or accommodation provider by phone,” says Guy Bauman, CMO and co-founder of IronVest, an all-in-one security app. “In addition, double-check the phone number provided within booking platforms, as well as your accommodation’s own website to make sure they match up. This way you can be sure you are speaking to a real representative who can ensure there are no issues with your booking.”
Be wary of airline deals: Hackers often exploit travelers looking for last-minute airline deals by selling plane tickets bought with stolen or hacked credit card details. They offer these tickets at cheap prices via phishing websites that look legit. When the victim arrives at the airport, they discover that the booking is canceled—or even worse, the credit card company reverses the charge, leaving you with no way to return from your trip. “This scam is especially dangerous because it is so
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