NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – As the long holiday weekend approaches, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s (TDCI) Consumer Affairs Division is offering safety and consumer tips to help ensure the holiday is safe and scam-free.
Traveling
• Before booking a vacation rental or hotel, research the company or travel agent you’re using. Make sure the reviews are positive and that the company is a trusted entity.
• Choose a hotel or rental that is equipped with smoke alarms and fire sprinklers.
• Be cautious of last-minute vacation or hotel offers that seem unrealistically low. Out-of-the-blue or advertised offers to pay $400 for a trip valued at $4,000 may be a scam.
• When considering which payment method to use for your vacation rental, keep in mind that credit card companies provide more fraud protection than any other payment method.
• Before leaving home, double check with hotels and airlines that everything is booked with correct dates.
• Be on the lookout for card skimmers. Gas stations, convenience centers, and ATMs are common places for thieves to hide card skimmers to glean your credit/debit card’s information. Before filling up or utilizing an ATM, examine the card reader. If there is a skimmer in place, a wiggle of the card reader should dislodge it.
• If you find or suspect a skimmer, cancel the transaction, ensure your safety, notify the cashier or ATM operating company, and report it to the local police.
• Keep an eye out for fraudulent charges on bank statements and online accounts.
For more tips on avoiding scams, visit tn.gov/consumer.