During these strange times, millions of families are coming up with a Plan B for summer travel and leisure activities.
But one thing the pandemic hasn’t put a damper on are faceless online criminals who are more eager than ever to steal stimulus checks, identities and more. Don’t let fraud ruin your plans — stay safe with our tips to combat summertime scams. We want to help keep you safe. Visit IHMVCU.org/ProtectYourself to learn more.
Summertime rentals
Your summer getaway might look a little different this year as you try to enjoy a vacation while still maintaining social distancing protocols. Cabin fever has set in for many families, leaving them to look for options with less foot traffic than a traditional hotel — like vacation rental properties.
If a private single-family property sounds like the perfect escape this year, you’re not alone. Statistics are showing rentals from places like Airbnb and VRBO are an increasingly popular option. But buyer beware! The stress and uncertainty felt in today’s climate can make people more vulnerable to rental scams, like booking a fake property.
Here are a few ways to make sure the rental you’re booking is legit:
- Read the reviews and check the host’s profile for reliability and high ratings. The more positive reviews, the better.
- Use a reputable listing site and look closely at the URL of the site you’re on. There are a number of scam sites out there that look like the real deal, but they’re not. Better yet, download the rental service’s app to avoid scams.
- Never use cash or wire money. When it comes time to pay, always use a credit card so it’s easier to dispute any potential fraudulent charges. You can also book your rental securely through each site’s mobile app, which use encryption and tokenization services to protect transactions.
Steps you can take to protect yourself as you shop for vacation or summer supplies online:
- Monitor your online information. IHMVCU makes it easy to manage all your accounts in one place with Online Branch or stay connected with the tap of a screen through our mobile app. Look for charges you don’t recognize, and periodically change your login and password information for the accounts you use most. Make sure your passwords include a mix of numbers, symbols, capital letters and lowercase letters to make it harder to crack.
- Shop where you trust. Search results can easily take you to a rip-off site, so be wary of misspellings and domains that aren’t .com, .net or .org. Consider only purchasing from well-established, reputable brands you have done business with before.
- Avoid public Wi-Fi. Online shopping means giving out your credit card and other sensitive information. On an unsecured Wi-Fi, that information can easily be hacked. Better to wait until you get home to make any purchases.