After months of cold weather, many of us are eager for spring vacation. With schools going on break, families are packing their bags to travel and enjoy the new season. While vacationers unwind and recharge, fraudsters stay active year-round, always searching for opportunities to steal your sensitive information.

If you’re planning a Spring Break getaway, it’s important to remain aware of the tactics scammers use to target travelers. Luckily, our experts at Elements have researched the top travel scams that occur during this time of year. Before you hit the road this spring, familiarize yourself with the following travel scams, along with our trusted advice to ensure a stress-free vacation.

Text Toll Scams

While traveling, you might come across tolls. A recent scam has been impacting people nationwide—one where fraudsters impersonate toll agencies and send text messages demanding payment. When recipients engage with the message, they are putting themselves at risk of identity theft and ransomware, which can be used to track online activity. With more than 2,000 toll collection smishing reports filed from at least three different states, it’s important to inspect any random text messages you receive*. Remember, E-ZPass and Tolls by Mail will never send texts or emails asking for your personal information.

Elements Advice: Never respond to a scam message! If you ever receive a text like the one in the image, it’s likely a scam attempt. Don’t reply or click on any links. Instead, report the sender as junk and delete the message.

Card Skimming

Another likely stop during your travels is to refuel, but unfortunately, this is also a common hotspot for scammers. Credit card skimming is a growing concern for card users, where fraudsters install small skimmer devices on gas pump readers to steal your credit card information. Skimmers aren’t limited to gas stations either – they can also be found at ATMs and other payment terminals. These devices are difficult to spot and aren’t often detected until the fraudster has already stolen your information and attempted to use your card.

Elements Advice: If you find yourself at an unfamiliar gas station, it’s safest to pay inside or use a mobile payment method instead.

Vacation Rental Scams

The worst part about arriving at a new destination is realizing that the vacation home you rented doesn’t exist. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many travelers. Fraudsters lurk on third-party rental sites, posting fake listings of vacation homes with unusually low prices. They will also create false rental websites and encourage renters to book directly through them, often promising better deals and amenities. In these cases, the pictures and description of the listing may not match the actual property’s condition or location, or the property doesn’t exist at all. 

Elements Advice: If you're booking through a third-party site like Airbnb or Vrbo, always read the reviews carefully and don't hesitate to ask for additional information from the host. In addition, be on the lookout for any red flags in your communications with the host. Creating a sense of urgency for you to commit and pay or refusing to provide more details on the property are two of the biggest indicators of someone trying to scam you.

What If I Fall Victim?

Scams can happen to anyone. While staying vigilant is the best way to protect your personal information, it doesn’t exempt you from being targeted. If you realize that you’ve fallen victim to fraud, we encourage you to take these proactive steps:

• Report the Scam: Contact Elements or your other impacted financial institution as soon as possible to minimize losses. You can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and your state’s Attorney General. 
• Alert the Platform: If the scam occurred online while booking, report the incident to the site so they can act quickly and prevent others from falling victim.
• Monitor Your Credit Report: You can request a free copy of your credit report to keep an eye on any suspicious activity. You should also consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze on your account, which prevents scammers from opening new accounts in your name.

Have questions or need trusted advice? Our credit union experts are always here for you. Contact Elements Financial for support in all aspects of your financial life.