Travel Safety Blog

New Scam hits travelers

In this scam, the con artist slips a wallet into the bags or pockets of travelers at airports, train stations and other popular areas for travelers. The scammer then confronts the person about the “theft of his wallet”. He threatens to have the police arrest you if you do not pay a “settlement”. Often the con artist will work with another person who will say that they witnessed you taking the scammer’s wallet. If you pay them, they will let you go. If you refuse they will have the police arrest you.

Be aware that if this happens to you, it is likely that the whole thing was caught on video tape, especially if it happens at an airport.

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Keep an eye on your credit cards

Identity theft and credit card scams are at an all time high. Keep track of all checks, credit cards and ATM cards all the time. Thieves like to target business travelers and tourists because they are an easy target and they likely will be gone before anyone is arrested. So there won’t be anyone to pick out the thief from a line up or to testify in court. These thieves often will use the credit cards and personal information gathered in a mugging, purse snatching or breaking into your hotel or rental car for identity theft scams. In this case a scammer used stolen credit cards to rack up $60,000 worth of travel and other charges.

Airline Insider Miles Scam

A former check-in agent for Air Canada put together a scam where he collected milage points of Air Canada passangers for his own use. His scam collected a total of five million miles in different accounts. He used the miles to fly friends and family around the world in first class.

Beware of Ticket Scams

There has been an increase in entertainment ticket scams. For example you go online and research ticket prices for a pro football game, tickets for a Broadway show, Disneyworld, Disneyland or tickets to the Olympic Games. You find an incredible deal and you pay for your tickets. Your whole trip is planned around going to this event. Maybe you are taking the family or you are taking business clients. But your tickets never show up, you’ve been scammed.

Here are some tips on how to avoid ticket scammers.
• If they won’t tell you their address or phone number, don’t do business with them.
• Check and see if they have a permanent address.
• See if your ticket broker belongs to the National Association or Ticket Brokers and that they are bonded at www.natb.org

It is very important to check these people out before you make a purchase. If they look legitimate then pay by credit card and if there are any problems you’ll have a better chance of getting the charges reversed to get your money back. However, if they do not look legit, do not give them anything let alone your credit card information. If they are scam artists there is nothing stopping them from using you personal financial information to commit identity theft against you.

There are more tips and advice in the article below, just click the “More >>” button.

Protect passwords on rental computers

Attention all travellers using Kinko's computer rentals and other cyber cafe computers while on the road - read this article. It contains important information about protecting your personal/financial/password information while using these rental computers. The bottom line is - don't use rental computers to access critical financial or personal information. At several Kinko's in the New York City area, a person installed software that recorded the keystroke information gathered from people using the computer rentals.

He ended up getting personal and financial information from more that 450 different people. If you need to access and use a password protected account from a rental computer you should cut and paste the password from a word document where the password is in the middle of random or gobbleygook writing. say for example your password is "27bluebird" then in the word document you have a paragraph of stuff like "3445black85the9427marker94world9875baseball8765....." Then you would cut and paste the string of characters that contains "27" and then "black" then "bird". this will give you far greater security than just typing in your password on a computer that might have key capture software hidden on it.

Beware of Pickpockets!

This is a great article on the dangers of pickpockets. It gives good advice and has a series of photographs that shows just how quickly a pickpocket can strike. According to the Justice Department, in 2001, there were over 158,000 victims in the US that lost $45 million to pickpockets. Don’t let this ruin your vacation.

Many pickpockets are tied into Identity Theft scams, so not only do they take your cash and credit cards, they take your good name and your credit and take it for a ride. And if you are on vacation while this is happening, the damage may be far greater when you get back home. Go to the “More” section and check out how to protect yourself from pickpockets.

Rapists and Robbers Have New Weapon

A 22 year old woman was sexually assaulted in the alley of a dance club. Earlier, she was given water while she was inside at the club. She started feeling dizzy and only remembers bits and pieces after that. She does remember being assaulted over the hood of a green car. Investigators speculate that GHB was slipped into her water.

Check out the free travel safety guide for the story of a traveling man who was drugged and robbed while riding on a bus through Latin America. The guide is available at www.mytravelsafety.com/guide.

A simple test kit for checking if food or drink contains one of the four most commonly used date rape drugs is available at www.collegesafe.com

Protect Your Home Before You Leave

If you are going somewhere and you want to return home and find all your stuff still there, then you should read this article. This is a great article on how to protect and secure your home before you leave on vacation. Much of this information comes from Police Officers who have seen a lot of vacation related crime.

Check out the free guide on travel safety at www.mytravelsafety.com/guide.htm for mind blowing tips and information on travel and vacation safety.

Going to Leave your Car at the Airport?

Gone in 60 seconds? How about 26 seconds. That is how often a car is stolen in the US, one car every 26 seconds. Travelers should beware because thieves like to strike when they can get away and it will be a while before anyone notices the car missing. So they’ll check out the long term parking lot at the airport or people’s driveways where they look like they’ve been gone for a while. Here is the list of the top 25 cars that thieves just can’t resist. Is your car on the list?

This article lists the cars and the reasons why thieves like them so much.

PDX screener accused of theft

This article should alert ALL air travelers to ALWAYS keep their bags and carry ons in sight. In Portland Oregon one of the federal airport screeners was videotaped stealing $1,300 from a woman's purse at a security checkpoint.

In this particular case, the main reason the PDX screener was found guilty is because the victim's husband was videotaping her at the check out point.

During heightened security alerts at all airports, frequently travelers are searched with metal detector wands while going through security checkpoints. It is certainly understandable WHY this is needed.

HOWEVER - when you are being wanded, kindly ask the airport screeners to bring your bags into your view WHILE you are being wanded. Last week this happened to me while in Providence Rhode Island. They chose to wand me at the security checkpoint, but when I asked them to bring my carry on bags over to where I was being wanded, they refused and two guards began to yell at me. They finished wanding me, but only after putting my bags through the screening machine a second time, with my carry on bags OUT OF MY VIEW.

Eventually they let me proceed to my gate, but they were not done with me yet.
They then sent three more security guards to then check my carry on bags and shoes minutes before I was to board the plane. They found nothing suspicious in any of my bags or shoes. They could not understand WHY I would insist that my carry on bags were in my view at all times.

This attitude by the security screeners jeopardizes the personal safety of your carry on bags. At the airport, you constantly hear an ongoing message about being responsible for your bags and not letting them out of your sight. I attempted to follow that advice, but was treated as a security risk by the guards.

You have every right to have your carry on bags in FULL VIEW while you are being searched or wanded by security screeners. Insist on this, or you may wind up having items or cash stolen from your carry on bag like this woman in Portland. Imagine if you had a carry on bag with a business laptop containing thousands of dollars of private company data?

Traveling? Keep an Eye on Your Identity

Over 500,000 Americans will be victimized by identity theft this year, and travelers will be especially hard hit. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the US. It is worse for travelers because it is much harder to figure out where the theft occurred. It could be a waiter with a pager sized card reader, that takes a swipe of your card when no one is looking, a worker in a shop or store, or even a bogus ATM machine.

Think about how many different accounts are tied to your ATM card. Do you have a checking, savings, money market account tied to the card? If that is the case then an identity thief with access to your card information can drain money away from all of those accounts.

Don't Get Ripped-Off!

Identity theft is at an all time high and travelers and people on vacation are at a much greater risk than people in other situations. This article outlines how someone can tap into your bank account and drain it dry without your ATM debit card or PIN number and how banks are taking a tougher stance on correcting it in your favor.

High tech thieves have installed tiny card readers at ATMs to record the data off of your card while hidden cameras capture you punching in your PIN number. With this information they can make a duplicate card and drain your account. Take a look at the ATM before you use it. Does everything look like it belongs there? One man found that the ATM that he was about to use had a loose cover around the card slot. He pulled on it and found that it was not original equipment, someone added it to the ATM

Another scam used to drain your account involves a thin sheet of plastic, about the size of an ATM debit or credit card that is put into the card slot before you even get there. You put your card in and the machine can not read your card through the sheet of plastic. The machine doesn’t even know that your card is there. You punch buttons and nothing happens. You push the cancel button and still nothing happens. It looks like the machine has eaten your card. After a while when you walk away in frustration, the scam artist comes up to the machine and pulls out the plastic sheet and recovers your card. In addition they probably saw you enter your PIN number several times as you tried to get the machine to work.

If this happens to you, look for a little plastic tab or plastic edge in the card slot. Take it out and you can get your card back. Be sure to report it as soon as possible. Just watch out for the scam artist, he may be watching.

Beware of Dangerous Surf

Cody Kennedy was wading in waist deep water at Pensacola Beach, Florida, when waves and rip tides swept him out to the Gulf of Mexico. Attempts to rescue Cody were unsuccessful. Similar waves and rip tides have killed 17 people along the same stretch of beach the last two years.

If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, don’t try to fight the power of the ocean by swimming straight towards the shore against the current. This is what your instincts will tell you to do, panic will kick in and you’ll struggle to get back to shore a quickly as possible. This will only wear you out until you are too tired to swim anymore.

Try to control your panic and swim parallel even with the beach until you are past the rip tides. Once you are past the rip tides you can swim to the shore at a diagonal. Try to get the attention of a lifeguard.

If you are with children stay with them and keep a very close eye on them. If you see anyone in trouble in the water don’t try to go after them, get a lifeguard. Far too often, the rescuer gets into trouble in dangerous surf.

Tourist injured while driving

Imagine you are driving in the countryside of a beautiful foreign country. The weather is warm and your car window is open. All of a sudden a large rock hits you in the head and you're in severe pain. That is what happened to an English tourist visiting Australia. He was not seriously injured but did learn a few things. The rock was propelled into his car by a commercial grade lawn mower along the side of the road. A safety guard on the mower would have prevented this.
So, when in doubt, as you drive near large construction or commercial vehicles such as lawn mowers, play it safe and roll up your window. Also remember that different countries have different safety regulations, some more strict than others.

A close friend of mine was injured by a thrown rock while on the train going through India. The rock sailed through the open window and struck him in the head, causing a bloody mess. He needed to go to the hospital right away after it happened. He was so glad that he made sure that he had traveler's insurance that covered medical while he was away.

Make sure that you are covered for any emergencies while you are away.

Woman on Vacation Lucks Out

A woman on vacation was very lucky when sharp eyed police caught the burglars that raided her home while she was away. They ransacked her home and stole her car. Luckily the police noticed something odd about the car and its driver, the 24 year old burglar. When they followed up on the registration on the car and went to the address listed, they found that the owner was away and that the house had been burglarized.

Think about what your home will look like while you are gone. Will it be obvious that you are away? Have the mail delivery held for you at the post office and stop the newspaper delivery. Have someone that you trust check out the place periodically. Make sure that the lawn gets mowed. Put some lights and a radio or TV on a timer so that they come on every once in a while. Make sure all doors and windows are locked and secured. And get an alarm system, one that will make a lot of noise if someone tries to break in.

www.mytravelsafety.com has more information, guides and products for securing your home before you leave.

Stay Off The Railing!

Vacations should be fun...sand, surf, and sunshine. Have fun and stay out of the hospital. This article reminds us about knowing your environment and staying safe from accidents. This student from Alabama fell four stories from a hotel balcony.

Thankfully, he was not seriously hurt, but he did spend two days of his short vacation in the local hospital. He did admit that he had been drinking at a party with friends and may not remember the entire incident. Don't let this happen to you or your family! Don’t let the kids climb on the railings or the balconies at the hotel, restaurants or other outings.

We put together a series of guides for safe traveling. Check out our Student Travel Safety Guide for details on safe student travel.

Road Trip Safety Tips

If you are planning a road trip, then you defiantly need to check out the tips in this article. Written by a member of the Hillsboro Police Department, it is full of real world safety and crime prevention tips. Read this if you want to avoid problems on your next trip. Also check out the guides and links at www.mytravelsafety.com for more safety tips and information.

US tourist shot on bus

South America offers beautiful vacation spots, but there are many treacherous routes between major cities. Keep this in mind as you plan your travel around different countries. This crime occured in Guatemala during a bus ride. Gunmen took over the bus of U.S. tourists and killed one of them.

Before travelling, do the research to find the most dependable and safest method of transportation. This will vary greatly from country to country.

Tourists are Drugged and Victimized

There has been an increase in reports of Date Rape Drugs being used to attack unsuspecting victims. Date Rape drugs will knock you out and leave you with little or no memory of the nights events. Countless women and men have been victimized, many beaten and robbed, most raped.

In the Hillsborough Street area near North Carolina State perpetrators have been paying bartenders to slip date rape drugs into the drinks of their intended victim.

Unless you are watching the bartender the entire time your drink is prepared, the only way to know for sure your drink is OK is to test it with a test kit like the DrinkSafe drink test strips, they are available at www.collegesafe.com

Honolulu to post theft warning signs

Kudos to the Honolulu Hawaii Police Department for proposing to post signs at tourist attractions. Thefts had been occuring at targeted hot tourist spots on the island, so the police planning to post warning signs listing those spots. This proactive involvement by the police will certainly deter thieves in those areas and increase safety awareness by the tourists.

Kudos to the Honolulu Hawaii Police Department for proposing to post signs at tourist attractions. Thefts had been occuring at targeted hot tourist spots on the island, so the police planning to post warning signs listing those spots. This proactive involvement by the police will certainly deter thieves in those areas and increase safety awareness by the tourists.

Couple Returns from Vacation to Find Home Trashed and Vandalized

Steve and Lana found their lives turned upside down when they returned from vacation four years ago. Their home and just about everything in it was destroyed, priceless family mementos and all. Yet, when they finally faced the five juveniles that broke into their home and created such havoc, they found kids in need of help and understanding. This article is about how they were able to recognize the destruction of their property as a cry for help from troubled youths.

Some Beaches Have Dangerous Drivers

We all know it's fun to run around on the beach during vacation. The wind, the waves, the fun of meeting new people. That is wonderful...as long as you are looking out for cars and other vehicle on the beach. Many beaches in Florida and other states allow driving and horseback riding on the beach. Keep an eye out for hazards and let the kids know about the potential dangers. And if you are driving, keep a constant look out for people lying on the beach.

Many times when you're driving, it is very difficult to see a person on the ground nearby. In this story from March 14, 2003, the AP wire reports the 12-year old girl was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

If you're lying on the beach, be sure to steer clear of driving paths that may be dangerous. Set up your towels far enough away so you can hear and see any vehicles ahead of time.

Airline travelers could face fines by TSA

Before you travel by air, it is important to visit the TSA website for a list of prohibited items for airplanes. One reason is for security and now the other is to avoid possible fines. Visit http://www.tsa.gov, click on the "Travelers and Consumers" section until you find the link for "Air Travel - Prohibited Items". Can you imagine innocently packing for a flight, then finding out your going to miss your flight, and be hit with a fine for $500? Play it safe and read the TSA list first. Right now fines range from $250 up to $10,000. Visit tsa.gov today and you'll fine the list of possible fines.

In addition if you are found carrying prohibited items onto an airliner, the next time you travel you will likely be subjected to a higher level of security screening or maybe not allowed to travel at all.

Sunrise photo session turns deadly

Two tourists visiting an oceanside cliff in Australia set off on a sunrise photo session. While focusing on the beautiful view and the camera shot, the rock beneath them gave way and one of them fell to their death. They had both walked through dense brush to a secluded and possibly unstable, dangerous area. Many outside areas don't have signs warning about potentialy dangerous situations because it is impossible to cover all the ground necessary. Therefore, what is left is for us to be aware of our surroundings to understand potential hazards - which could be falling rocks, mudslides and more.

Two tourists visiting an oceanside cliff in Australia set off on a sunrise photo session. While focusing on the beautiful view and the camera shot, the rock beneath them gave way and one of them fell to their death. They had both walked through dense brush to a secluded and possibly unstable, dangerous area. Many outside areas don't have signs warning about potentialy dangerous situations because it is impossible to cover all the ground necessary. Therefore, what is left is for us to be aware of our surroundings to understand potential hazards - which could be falling rocks, mudslides and more.

However, before visiting an area, obtain maps that might possibly designate unsafe areas to explore. It is also a good idea to ask local residents for this kind of information.