Whether you’re originally from the United States and looking to visit a new state or intend to travel to the country for the first time, you will find countless activities and beautiful places to occupy your attention. From historic locations like the Golden Gate Bridge to the country’s range of undisturbed national parks, there are attractions and sights to occupy any traveler for weeks at a time.
Despite what you may hear on the local news, the U.S. is generally a safe and welcoming country for visitors. Nonetheless, it is always wise to take reasonable precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones while traveling. Doing so reduces the risk of suffering physical or financial harm during your trip. In this article, we discuss some of the more common scams experienced in the U.S., along with how to avoid them safely.
Phone Call Scams
Phone call scams are, unfortunately, a regular component of life for most people already living in the United States. In some cases, you will receive persistent calls from telemarketers attempting to sell you a service or product that you don’t need. However, other attempted phone call scams can be much more worrisome.
The caller may tell you that local law enforcement or the FBI has a warrant out for your arrest, and only wiring money to the person on the phone will cancel the active warrant. You may also receive a call saying that you have been billed for an Amazon delivery, or that there was a problem with your most recent tax return – even if you don’t live in the U.S. at all! Never provide any identifying information to someone that calls unexpectedly. Find the legitimate contact information of the agency or business that allegedly contacted you and confirm that the person you spoke with was a qualified representative of their company.
Credit Card Fraud
The AZ Defenders summarize credit card fraud as any “intent to defraud in order to get money, goods or services with the use of another person’s credit card without consent.” Credit card fraud is treated as a very serious crime in the U.S., with some states punishing the crime as a felony offense, depending on the financial damages caused. Some of the more common types of credit card fraud a traveler may encounter include:
- Theft of a physical credit card
- Card-not-present purchases or subscriptions
- Credit card applications under an unknowing person’s name
- Bank account takeovers
- Credit card skimming
Hotel Call Scams
During this particularly sneaky scam, someone will call your phone (oftentimes in the middle of the night, when you will be disoriented) and pretend to be working at your hotel’s front desk. They will state that there is a problem with your stay and that they need your credit card information to sort out problems on their end. Of course, the person on the other end is simply hoping to steal your credit card information and do as much damage as possible before you wake up the next morning.
A reputable hotel should not have an employee ask for your personal details or credit card information over the phone. If someone calls you and claims that there is a problem with your stay, visit the front desk when you can and ask for clarification. Let the employees know that you received a suspicious call, so that they are aware of the problem and can transfer further calls with care.
Fake Wifi Connections
If you are at a hotel, coffee shop, or other venue with access to WiFi, be sure you are signing on to the correct network for paying customers. Scammers may create a WiFi network that has a very similar name to the business’ name in the hopes of tricking unsuspecting customers. Once you sign into the malicious WiFi network, your information may be at risk of being stolen. Scammers may be able to verify sensitive information about your identity or even gain access to your finances.
Unscrupulous Taxi Driver Scams
Taxi scams occur in locations across the world, not necessarily just within U.S. borders. Some of the issues you may run into include:
- Taxi drivers intentionally taking a long or inconvenient route to your destination to drive up the cost of your trip. Always have a general sense of how far your destination is and track the route your driver is taking on your phone’s navigation, when possible. Don’t mention that you’re a tourist when you get in the taxi.
- Taxis with a “broken meter.” If the driver tells you the meter is broken or refuses to start the meter at the beginning of your trip, get out of the car immediately. They may try to raise the price of your ride by a significant amount.
- The driver “forgetting” your bags in the trunk and driving off before you can retrieve them. Be sure that you have recovered all of your personal items from the vehicle before the driver heads off.
Fake Parking Attendants
You are more likely to witness the “fake parking attendant” scam in a large city or at an organized event, such as a football game or live concert. You may see people, oftentimes carrying handmade signs, advertising parking for the event you are going to. The person advertising available parking may offer to “watch” your car in exchange for a fee.
In some cases, the person may not even own the rights to the lot that you park in, leading to the actual property owner calling to have your car towed. This can amount to a bill in the hundreds of dollars, to say nothing of the damage that may be inflicted to your car by a careless tow truck company. If you leave the venue and are fortunate enough to find your car where you left it, the person “watching” the lot may intentionally damage your vehicle if you refuse to pay their fee.
Overly Friendly Street Vendors
In some cities, you may find yourself swarmed by seemingly friendly locals offering to give you bracelets, flowers, or other items. Once the item is in your possession, the person’s attitude will change and they will loudly begin to demand a hefty price for whatever it is they gave you. To avoid a scene, travelers may feel pressured to give in and pay the person for the item, even if it was accepted unwillingly. Sometimes, an accomplice of the street vendor may even use the distraction to attempt to pick your pockets.
To avoid falling victim to this type of scam, keep your head down when approached by unfamiliar vendors. Do not let anyone put bracelets, necklaces, or other items on your body. Simply state that you are uninterested and keep walking.
Enjoy Safe Travels in 2023
We hope that this article helps you enjoy your next trip through the U.S.! Wherever you find yourself, remember to always pay attention to your surroundings and listen to your gut instinct if something around you does not feel right.