If you are looking to escape the cold Idaho weather for the warm beaches or exotic locales of the world, spring break is a popular time to get away. Kids are out of school so they can come with you, or spend a week at the grandparents. 

Spring break can be a time of fun and excitement, but in the middle of splashing in the ocean and eating delicious food, keep an eye out. Vacations, especially during spring break, are full of scams, fraud, and swindlers looking to swipe some of your money. Don't let them ruin your time off! Read some common vacation scams to watch out for.
 

Too Good to be True Deals

This one starts long before you put on the Hawaiian shirt. There are tons of scams around “deals” for flights, hotels, or vacation packages. Some of these are trying to get your private information, while others take your money but don’t deliver their side of the bargain.

As you begin planning your trip and come across any deal that seems way too good, do your research on it. Read the small print, look for authentic reviews, make sure the business is real, and ask around on social media if anybody has used the deal or business. 

If anything comes back negative on the too good to be true deal, skip it. There are ways to get good deals on travel and vacations, but if something is fishy, don’t do it. 
 

You Won a Free Vacation

Whether it comes through snail mail, email, or a phone call, somebody is lying if they said you won a “free vacation.” You didn’t win, you’re the target of a scam. 

The “free vacation” is a disguise to get your credit card and private info, or to make you pay fake fees, taxes, reservation deposits, and more. Maybe there is a vacation at the end, but it will definitely not be what was promised, or you end up at your location to find out it was all fake.
 

Strangers Offering “Once in a Lifetime” Experiences

While on your vacation, you probably will stick out from the locals, especially outside of the country. Many scammers target tourists and are quite successful at it. They approach a person on the street offering an amazing experience. They seem nice, honest, and have an awesome deal or an open seat for something you can’t experience anywhere else.

Then, the scam goes down in two ways. Either they run away with the cash or money you pay, or they try to steal your identity. They ask to see your ID, a credit card, or passport, all things with private information they can use for a big payday.

If you are booking experiences for your vacation, do it with a reputable company. Don’t let strangers take advantage of you and ruin your trip.
 

Keep a Close Eye on Your Money

We are accustomed to giving our cards to waiters, cashiers and others when paying for things, but be extra careful doing this on vacation. With a few quick pictures on a smartphone, a cashier could steal your credit card, and with a few innocuous questions, learn enough about you to start using it to make purchases.

And while it’s not a common occurrence in the U.S., pickpockets are out and about in other countries, especially in larger cities. If you are around other people, don’t leave your money or cards in a wallet, in your back pocket, or a purse. 

Throughout each day, check your accounts online. This is a great way to keep track of your money and also help identify if your card was stolen. If you start seeing fraudulent purchases on your accounts, pause your card right away. 

Canceling your cards and getting a replacement is really hard while on vacation, but Pioneer members have the functionality to pause their cards. In myPioneer Online and Mobile Banking, you can pause your debit and credit cards, then unpause them when it’s time to make a purchase. This can protect you if your card does get stolen and give you time till you get back home to cancel and get a new one.
 

Set up Fraud Alerts and Protection

It’s a smart idea to set up ways you can be notified in case something does go wrong with your money. The more protections you set up, the better off you’ll be. If possible, set up a notification with your accounts to send you a text or email anytime a purchase is made. Yes, it will get annoying, but if suddenly you start getting notifications on purchases you didn’t make, you can stop it quickly. Keep these notifications running for a little while after your vacation too, in case the card was stolen and the thieves waited a little bit before using it.

Similarly, have some sort of fraud protection if the worst does happen. Pioneer members with a reward checking account get fraud protection as part of their account. If their card or identity is stolen while on vacation or even back home, with the help of a fraud recovery specialist, they can secure their accounts and protect their money.

Learn More about Fraud Protection