Avoiding Scams
Here are some tips to avoiding:
TIP: Use a search engine to get to a legitimate travel or lodging site address, or compare the search result to the address that appears in an ad.
Using a credit card generally provides you better consumer protections, and be sure the website is secure (any website that accepts online payments should begin with “https://”). Be wary if the host party contacts you via email or other method outside the website to request a payment that is not made through the site.
BBB suggests the following to avoid becoming a victim of spoofed phishing emails:
For additional information, contact the Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, 1305 East Walnut St., Hoover Building, Des Moines, IA 50319 or call 515- 281-5926. Call toll free outside the Des Moines area: 888-777-4590.
- Be wary of being redirected to fake sites. Redirecting the user to another website without the user realizing it can be easier than you think. One click on an ad or link can lead you to a mock website. These ads, pop-ups, and links to fraudulent websites often appear legitimate.
- Look closely at the web address (URL). Fake websites often have a URL close, but not identical, to the legitimate website address. For example, a widely circulated online report exposed a site impersonating a legitimate online lodging rental site called Airbnb. The fraudulent site used the URL “airbnb.itinerary-booking.com,” closely mirroring the legitimate airbnb.com.
TIP: Use a search engine to get to a legitimate travel or lodging site address, or compare the search result to the address that appears in an ad.
- Pay through the site if you trust them, and avoid third party payment methods. Or pay through you paypal account if you have one. It’s a red flag whenever someone you’re doing business with seeks payment through a wire transfer, prepaid money card, or a third party site.
Using a credit card generally provides you better consumer protections, and be sure the website is secure (any website that accepts online payments should begin with “https://”). Be wary if the host party contacts you via email or other method outside the website to request a payment that is not made through the site.
- Be cautious of offers that may be too good to be true. Fake websites often offer unbelievably low prices. While these may be high-tech scams, the old, tried-and-true advice still applies: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
- Watch out for overly-glowing reviews. Fraudulent websites often make up reviews that are overwhelmingly positive to help convince consumers that a fake site is legitimate.
- Call the company before you order. Fraudulent or shady operations will be hesitant to take your phone call or be harder to reach than legitimate, reputable businesses. When you call, ask where the person on the other end of the phone line is located.
BBB suggests the following to avoid becoming a victim of spoofed phishing emails:
- Pick up the phone and confirm that the request is legitimate. Use a phone number that you know to be correct (not a unrecognized number in an email).
- Examine the email address closely for slight variations such as an extra letter that are common in mimicked email addresses.
- Tag the email as SPAM.
- Report the email to your Internet Service Provider, and notify your co-workers so others don’t fall for it.
- Notify your BBB at 800.649.6814 and report scams, schemes, con-games and rip-offs on BBB’s ScamTracker at bbb.org/scamtracker/
For additional information, contact the Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, 1305 East Walnut St., Hoover Building, Des Moines, IA 50319 or call 515- 281-5926. Call toll free outside the Des Moines area: 888-777-4590.
