People are getting back to traveling and older adults are a big part of the traveling consumer. Numbers are getting back to pre-Pandemic levels and there are a myriad of issues that every traveler faces. Delays and increased prices are things that have become normal parts of today’s travel.
What may not be normal are the scams that travelers encounter. No matter where you’re traveling, be proactive with your safety and security.
When booking, make sure you’re using reputable sources. Check the website. Is it correct? Beware of ‘fake’ brokers who rent you non-existent property. Make sure your travel insurance covers what you need.
Be aware of other dangers lurking in the shadows.
Have you heard about the picture scam? Someone asks you to take their picture. You take the picture and hand back the camera but the device is dropped and broken. The scammer says that you have to pay for the damage. A partner may also be waiting to grab your bags while you’re distracted.
Are you using public transportation? If you are taking a taxi, map the route on your phone before you venture out. When the taxi leaves, you have an idea of where you’re going and the time it should take to get to your destination. You will probably not know routes so pre-mapping will give you some degree of familiarity or a route to check.
You’re almost out of cash so you stop at the ATM. Somebody comes up to help you. They don’t just help you, they help themselves to your money by scanning your credit or debit card with a hidden skimmer and they watch for your PIN number. They later use this information to drain your bank account.
Travelers: beware of the spill scam. Someone spills something on you or indicates that you have something on your clothing. As they are cleaning you up, they are cleaning you out. The spiller is a distraction and their partner is lifting your wallet or your purse.
Most of us travel with our devices and we are used to having connectivity no matter where we are. Beware of airport and hotel WiFi hacks. You can connect with a generic password or no password which leaves your device vulnerable and gives scammers access to your personal information. You may want to invest in a VPN or virtual private network which helps you stay private online. Don’t do banking or other financial functions while using public WiFi.
Now that we are traveling again, we become more vulnerable to the scams that are constantly being upgraded and refined. Do your homework and learn about travel scams. Be proactive with your security.
Stay safe!
