Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, is tomorrow, and many consumers may be looking forward to taking advantage of the holiday for sales, vacations (or staycations), or an excuse to get out and enjoy the summer weather. Unfortunately, holidays provide an opportunity for scammers to strike, often resulting in lost time, money or personal information. Holiday-themed scams often lure in consumers with deals on popular items, hotel or car rentals and all-inclusive travel packages that seem too good to be true.
In the 30 days leading up to Labor Day in 2021, over 3,500 scams were reported to BBB Scam Tracker from consumers across North America. More than 30% of reports detailed consumer interactions with online purchase scams resulting in over $500,000 lost. Consumers who reported experiencing a travel scam during this time lost an average of $480, and over 450 phishing scams were also reported.
To avoid fraud during the Labor Day weekend, Better Business Bureau recommends following these tips:
Verify the source of purchase and trust your instincts. According to the 2021 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report, 74% of consumers who avoided losing money to scammers felt something wasn’t right about the situation and proceeded to investigate further. Be sure to take the time to investigate a business or company thoroughly before making…
