Avoid summer bummers with scam protection
School’s out, summer’s in, and it’s time to live life outdoors. With summer comes more opportunities to travel, vacation, and spend money. However, while the opportunities flourish for consumers, the opportunities also grow for scams and fraud. At Rock Valley Credit Union, we’re here to help keep you and your hard-earned cash safe with some helpful tips for your summer spending.
Vacation rental scams
Between hotels, motels, Airbnb's, and timeshares, the options are endless for vacationers to find a spot that best suits them for their travel. But with so many options, finding the difference between fraudsters and five-star fun is tough.
-Check with the Better Business Bureau
When you’ve found the rental that’s best for you, be sure to check in with BBB.org to learn more about the vendor. From there you can check out reviews and any complaints. Be sure to look for photos and other write-ups about the site to make an informed decision. You can also check out the BBB Scam Tracker to see if you’re dealing with a scam
Summer job scams
During the summer months, you may find yourself with a little more time on your hands than usual, and perhaps you want to spend that time making a little extra cash. If you do decide to pick up a summer job, here are some factors to look out for to avoid getting scammed.
-Sending money to the job
At face value, this one seems easy to avoid but scammers have multiple ways to get your account info through this process. Let’s say you get hired but the “company” says you must go through training, and they need *you* to pay it. From there, scammers can access your account or credit/debit card info. Scammers can also “overpay” you and they’ll ask you to wire some of the money back to them or to somewhere unfamiliar. Those are major signs of scams.
-If it’s too good to be true, it probably is
How about this for another scenario:
The company loves you! They want to hire you on the spot, no interview needed! Just sign a few things and you’re well on your way! No? Well, you’re missing out on thousands for such an easy job!
If a company tries to hire you quickly or pitches you on emotion, odds are that the job is a fraudulent one. Be sure to keep your logic and reasoning in check. Ask yourself: Why do they need me to start so fast? Can I speak with anyone else in the company about this job? Why are these hiring managers so pushy? These questions can help you throughout the process.
Summer concert scams
Last year, Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour became the first tour to gross over a billion dollars with the number still climbing in 2024 with more dates this year. Perhaps the biggest tour in modern history has inspired you to go out and see concerts and live events this summer at places like Lollapalooza or Summerfest. With the growth of these events comes the growth of ticket scams, here are some tips to avoid having your concert experience end at the entrance gate.
-Buy directly from the source
The best way to avoid a secondary ticket scam is to avoid secondary tickets altogether. If there’s an event on your radar, do your best to check the event’s website to purchase tickets or to visit their box office if possible.
-Get to know your seller
Obviously, the first option is not always available with how life works. If you do go the secondary route, work to get to know the seller. Ask to meet in person in a place where you feel safe and comfortable to exchange money and tickets. Avoid using peer-to-peer apps (Venmo, Cash App, etc.) and use a credit card instead to give yourself a better chance at recuperating your money if you do get scammed. The National Association of Ticket Brokers is also a great resource for resale tickets as the vendors offer a 200% money-back guarantee.
Summers are better with RVCU
All in all, trust your gut and do your homework for summer spending, and remember that Rock Valley Credit Union is there to help wherever life takes you this summer.