Though scams happen year-round, during the summer there’s an increase in fraud around popular summer activities. Here are some common summer scams:
Summer concert and event scams
Fraudsters will target and exploit popular summer concerts, trying to lure victims through fake websites, social media posts or emails offering tickets at discounted prices.
Fake travel websites.
Be on the lookout for spoofed or fake travel websites, which can be disguised as legitimate sources. These sites might look real and offer attractive deals on flights, hotels and vacation packages.
The disappearing vacation rental.
Scammers are trying to take advantage of popular sites like AirBnB and VRBO by offering properties that don’t exist or don’t belong to them.
You’ve won a free vacation.
Some scammers will try to trick consumers into believing they’ve won a “free” vacation, but they need to pay a fee to receive the prize or pay for taxes.
How to protect yourself:
- Verify websites.
- Book direct.
- Use a credit card.
- Use caution with QR codes.
If you think you’ve been a victim of scam, call us at 801-399-9728.
Article adapted from usatoday.com