The Update

Don’t Get Scammed this Spring Break!

As you finalize your spring break plans, watch out for these scams, which can turn your dream vacation into a nightmare.

Travel Scams

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns springtime vacationers to be wary of super-cheap, likely bogus, travel deals. Before booking a flight or hotel reservation through an online service, research the agency behind the deal. Look up the business on BBB.org and check out their website thoroughly. The BBB also recommends booking a vacation deal using a credit card so you can reclaim your money if things go south.

Grandparent Scams

In this ruse, scammers will call the victim and pretend to be their vacationing grandchild. They’ll claim to have been arrested or hospitalized and that they are in desperate need of cash. Sometimes, the caller will impersonate local authorities or medical personnel allegedly with the grandchild. The caller will ask the grandparents to send money immediately via wire transfer or prepaid debit card. The scam can also target parents or friends of vacationing students.

The demand for immediate payment, and for payment via wire transfer or prepaid debit card, should alert you to this scam. If the caller pretends to be your grandchild, you can also spot the scam by asking the caller personal questions only your grandchild will know how to answer. If they can’t provide satisfactory answers, hang up. If the caller is impersonating a legal or medical authority, ask to speak to your grandchild. If they claim this isn’t possible, ask for a callback number and hang up. Next, call your vacationing grandchild or the relatives who are most likely to have last heard from them to verify your grandchild’s whereabouts. You’ll probably learn that your grandchild is fine.

Airbnb Scams

In this scam, you’ll contact an Airbnb property owner. The supposed host will send you a link for other properties they have listed and you’ll wire a fee to reserve a rental. When you try to confirm your reservation with Airbnb, however, it will have no record of the property or of your transaction. Unfortunately, you were previously directed to a bogus website.

Avoid this scam by checking the URL of any site you visit through Airbnb to make sure you’re still on the actual Airbnb site.

RGCU personal identity theft reimbursement 

As an RGCU Member you have benefits for using your RGCU debit or credit card, including personal identity theft recovery assistance. If your identity is stolen, you could be reimbursed up to $5,000 for the cost of recovery.