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Top Five Summer Scams

scam fraud logo 2Sedona AZ (June 12, 2014) – Summer is a great time to take that long-overdue vacation or make much-needed home repairs, but as the weather heats up, so do scams. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns about popular summer scams of which consumers should be aware:

1. Vacation Scams: Fake travel agents and websites use too-good-to-be-true deals only to take your money. Whether it’s a fake timeshare rental or a bogus Disney vacation, don’t let a vacation scam take you for a ride. Make sure the offer is legitimate by checking with BBB at bbb.org. If BBB does not have a BBB Business Review on the company, dig deeper by conducting a Google search of the company’s phone number, address or website to see if consumers have reported any issues.

2. Moving Scams:
Summer is known to be a peak time for moving, and unlicensed movers and dishonest scammers are waiting to take advantage of the busy season. Always research the company and check out the mover’s BBB Business Review at bbb.org. Be careful with price quotes over the phone and online estimates, as they might not be binding. Also, remember that the lowest estimate can sometimes be an unrealistic, low-ball offer, which may cost you more in the end.

scam A3. Concert Ticket Scams:
Before paying for concert tickets online, make sure the seller is reputable. Oftentimes, phony sellers trick consumers into wiring money with no intention of sending real tickets. Most concert venues allow ticket holders to print tickets from personal computers, which gives scammers the opportunity to sell the same ticket repeatedly to unsuspecting consumers. Be wary of sellers who offer a sad tale as to why they cannot use the tickets, only accept cash, want the money wired or transferred through a prepaid account, and/or pressure you to act quickly.

4. Door-to-Door Scams: Many legitimate companies use door-to-door sales, and various city ordinances regulate solicitors to protect residents from unscrupulous individuals. However, consumers need to watch for individuals who try to work their way around the system to line their pockets. Many door-to-door salesmen offer deals for everything from driveway paving and air conditioning repair to security systems. Before saying yes, get all promises in writing, including start and finish dates. Never sign a contract that has an open-ended completion date or blank spaces.

5. Employment Scams: Finding summer employment is top priority for most college and high school students. Don’t let the seasonal job hunt turn into a waste of time and money. Be wary of employers who require fees for training and background checks, or who tout “no experience needed.”

Sign up for BBB’s Scam Stopper at bbb.org/scam.

BBB is an organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. In 2013, people turned to BBB more than 132 million times for BBB Business Reviews® on more than 4.5 million businesses and BBB Wise Giving ReportsTM on 11,000 charities, all available free at bbb.org.

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1 Comment

  1. This most recent scam was brought to my attention from my regional crime prevention group.

    You arrive at your hotel and check in at the front desk. Typically when checking in, you give the front desk your credit card (for any charges to your room).

    You go to your room and settle in. All is good.

    The hotel receives a call and the caller asks for – as an example room 620 – which happens to be your room number.

    The phone rings in your room.

    You answer and the person on the other end says the following: This is the front desk. When checking in, we came across a problem with your charge card information. Please re-read me your credit card number and verify the last 3 digits numbers at the reverse side of our charge card.

    Not thinking anything wrong, since the call seems to come from the front desk you just give the information to but actually, it is a scam by someone calling from OUTSIDE the hotel.

    They have asked for a random room number, then ask you for your credit card and address information.

    They sound so professional, that you think you are talking to the front desk.

    If you ever encounter this scenario on your travels, tell the caller that you will be down to the front desk to clear up any problems.

    Then, go to the front desk or call directly and ask if there was a problem.

    If there was none, inform the manager of the hotel that someone tried to scam you of your credit card information, acting like a front desk employee.

    ANYONE traveling should be aware of this one!

    Anthony J. (Tony) Palermo CCPS

    Community Relations Specialist

    Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office

    255 E. Gurley Street

    Prescott, AZ 86301

    anthony.palermo@yavapai.us

    928.777.7223

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