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  Geebo 8:00 am on August 21, 2025 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: baggage tags, boarding pass, identity theft ( 124 ), Scams ( 1,553 ), travel scam, traveling ( 16 )   

  The Baggage Tag Scam You Didn’t Expect 

  

  By Greg Collier

  A recent report from Moneywise highlights how something as simple as a discarded airline baggage tag can open the door to fraud and identity theft. The adhesive tags that airlines place on luggage are meant to ensure that bags are routed correctly, but they also contain more personal information than many travelers realize.

  These tags often display details such as the passenger’s name, flight number, date of travel, and destination. Some may also include the booking reference, place of origin, and even the weight of the bag. With that much data available, scammers are finding ways to exploit travelers who carelessly toss away their tags after a flight.

  The issue arises when fraudsters collect tags from trash bins at airports or hotels. Using the information, they attempt to impersonate travelers by filing false baggage claims, requesting reimbursement for items that were never theirs. This creates fraudulent payouts and complicates the process for genuine passengers who need to be compensated for legitimate losses.

  Boarding passes present similar risks. Both paper and digital versions can reveal key information that criminals can use to hijack accounts, steal frequent flyer miles, or commit broader identity theft. A simple scan of the barcode with a mobile app, or even a quick glance over someone’s shoulder while in line, can give a scammer access to sensitive details.

  What makes this even more concerning is how interconnected today’s travel systems have become. Many airline loyalty accounts are linked to hotel programs, rental car memberships, and even stored credit cards. That means one compromised boarding pass or baggage tag could provide a scammer with enough information to move beyond false baggage claims and into broader identity theft or account takeovers. Once inside a loyalty account, criminals can drain accumulated points, make unauthorized bookings, or harvest more personal data to use in phishing schemes.

  This type of fraud underscores the importance of treating baggage tags and boarding passes as personal documents. Careless disposal or public sharing, including posting photos on social media, can expose travelers to unnecessary risks. Instead, travelers are advised to keep these items secure until they are home and then properly shred or destroy them.

  While the threat of identity theft may feel like one more thing to worry about when traveling, it is a reminder that security extends beyond passports and credit cards. A few simple precautions with items that might seem harmless can make the difference between a safe trip and one complicated by fraud.

   

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  Geebo 8:01 am on July 25, 2025 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: airlines, customer service ( 55 ), impersonation scam ( 182 ), Scams ( 1,553 ), social media ( 87 ), travel scam   

  Scammers Lurk After Travel Rants 

  

  By Greg Collier

  A new scam is targeting travelers who take to social media to vent frustrations about delayed or disrupted trips. What begins as a routine post tagging an airline or airport can quickly turn into a phishing attempt from imposters posing as customer service representatives.

  One recent incident occurred after a family endured extensive travel delays returning from Mexico. A flight that was expected to take just one hour turned into a 24-hour ordeal involving hours on the tarmac and an unexpected fifteen-hour drive home. After sharing the experience on social media and tagging the involved airline and airport, the traveler’s inbox was flooded with messages that appeared to come from official customer support accounts. However, the senders were scammers attempting to collect personal information such as full names, addresses, phone numbers, and flight details.

  These fraudulent messages often come from newly created accounts that mimic real customer service pages. They may use company logos and names to appear legitimate but typically lack a verified status, have few posts, and limited engagement. In contrast, authentic corporate accounts usually have a long history, substantial followings, and verified badges.

  Travelers who wish to lodge a complaint or seek a resolution should avoid replying to social media messages that arrive unsolicited. Instead, they should reach out directly through the official website or app of the airline or travel provider. Many companies now offer live chat functions or dedicated customer support sections within their platforms.

  To avoid falling victim to this type of scam, it is important to remain cautious when receiving unexpected messages after posting a complaint. Verifying the account’s history, follower count, and contact method can help determine whether the message is genuine. Travelers should never share sensitive personal details with accounts they have not independently verified.

  In this particular case, travel insurance helped the affected family recover some of their expenses. While airing frustrations online is common, it is essential to be careful about who might be watching and waiting to take advantage.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on June 23, 2025 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: phishing ( 86 ), Scams ( 1,553 ), text scam ( 29 ), tolls ( 8 ), travel scam   

  Scammers Target Drivers With Texts 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Toll scams are among the most common digital frauds circulating today, and a recent case out of Utah demonstrates how easily they can catch someone off guard. After completing a cross-country road trip with her husband, one woman found herself navigating toll charges from several different states. She expected to receive payment notices by mail. So when a text message arrived in January asking her to settle an outstanding toll, it didn’t seem suspicious at first.

  The timing felt plausible. She was away from home and in a hurry, so she clicked the link and entered her payment information to resolve the issue quickly. Not long after, her credit union contacted her about two unauthorized charges totaling several hundred dollars. She hadn’t made the purchases. She had been scammed.

  These toll scams are convincing because they prey on routine behavior. When someone knows they’ve driven on toll roads, receiving a message about an unpaid toll feels legitimate. The scam works by mimicking a real toll agency’s communication style and creating a sense of urgency. Victims are told they must pay promptly to avoid penalties or legal consequences. That fear can override skepticism, especially when the message arrives during a busy moment.

  In this case, the text included a payment link that led to a fake site resembling a toll collection portal. Once the victim submitted her debit card information, the fraudsters immediately used it to make unauthorized purchases. This incident underscores the risk of entering sensitive information through links received by text, especially on mobile devices where it’s harder to spot red flags.

  One key detail that might have helped expose the scam was the phone number itself. The message came from a foreign country code, completely unrelated to the toll agency it claimed to represent. A closer look would have revealed that the Massachusetts toll system is unlikely to use a number based in the Philippines. Small inconsistencies like these often go unnoticed when people are trying to act quickly.

  The victim later realized that using a debit card added another layer of risk. Unlike credit cards, debit transactions can be harder to dispute, particularly if a PIN was entered. Consumer advocates often recommend using credit cards instead for online payments, as they offer stronger fraud protections.

  Toll scams like this continue to circulate because they rely on timing and familiarity. They succeed when people are distracted or expecting a message that appears to match their recent activity. Recognizing the warning signs, suspicious links, unfamiliar area codes, and rushed payment demands, can make a crucial difference. Slowing down, verifying the source, and avoiding financial transactions over text can help protect against this increasingly common form of fraud.

   
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  Geebo 8:01 am on June 17, 2025 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: identity theft ( 124 ), passports, Scams ( 1,553 ), travel ( 3 ), travel scam   

  Fake Passport Sites Steal Your Data 

  

  By Greg Collier

  As international travel ramps up during the busy summer, scammers are exploiting time-sensitive travelers through deceptive passport and visa renewal websites. These fraudulent sites mimic the appearance of official U.S. government pages in order to trick users into paying for services and documents that should be free.

  The scams are designed to appear as legitimate resources, often using patriotic color schemes, official-looking language, and imagery that resembles government branding. People rushing to renew their documents may not notice the subtle warning signs, such as disclaimers stating the site is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of State. Many end up paying $88 for forms that are freely available through official government channels.

  These sites also gather a wide range of personal information under the guise of processing travel documents. This may include names, birthdates, addresses, and even Social Security numbers. Often, consumers receive nothing more than a PDF containing the same information they provided, which they still must take to a government office to complete the process. The fee is essentially for repackaging publicly available forms, while also exposing users to the risk of identity theft.

  To avoid falling victim to these scams, travelers should take a few precautionary steps. Always check that the website address ends in “.gov” before entering personal information or making a payment. Government websites in the United States exclusively use the “.gov” domain. Taking time to visit the U.S. Department of State’s official site can help prevent costly mistakes and provide accurate information about current passport processing times. Researching a website through the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker can also help determine if others have reported fraudulent activity.

  As tempting as it may be to cut corners when time is limited, rushing through online forms can result in wasted money and serious privacy risks. Scammers know that urgency creates opportunity. Travelers who take a few extra moments to verify where they are submitting their information can avoid becoming the next target.