One scam that comes up repeatedly takes advantage of when a grandchild - typically a young adult - is away from home. An astute crook will look for tip-offs on social networks when someone who fits the profile is traveling - a reminder that revealing personal information can be used for no-good, says Kim Garner, senior vice president of global security and investigations with MoneyGram. Crooks can also easily obtain personal information from student IDs and driver's licenses left on beach blankets or bars in vacation spots.
"I don't think (consumers) realize the amount of time that bad guys can devote to this," says Garner, a former Secret Service agent. "Really, any information, especially that young adults and teenagers provide, is useful to these guys. These guys are relentless."
In the "emergency scam" or "grandparent scam," the fraudster will reach out to the grandparents of the young person who is away and either pose as the grandchild, someone close to them or someone in a position of authority asking for money to be wired to post bail or get them out of some dire situation.
Another scam that crops up more often during times when a lot of people are traveling comes in the form of an email (from an account that has been hacked) from a friend or relative who tells a woeful tale of either being mugged or otherwise losing all their money while on vacation. The punch-line, of course, is a request to wire money.
Instead of sending the money, Garner says, determine for yourself the authenticity of these communications. "Pick up the phone and call. Don't trust the email," she says. "If they don't answer, get the number of a friend who should be with them and contact them."
Tools that can be put in place to avoid problems caused by a gap in communication includng planning when to touch base as well as providing alternate contact information, including hotel phone numbers and cell numbers of companions. Also, overseas travelers can register with the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, which can help travelers to be reached in the event of an emergency back home.
(Editing by Beth Pinsker Gladstone)
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