6 Tips for a Scam-Free Summer

Don’t get scammed this summer! Follow these 6 tips to stay safe. 

1. Never pay for a “prize” vacation

If you’re asked to pay a small fee to claim a free vacation prize, you’re looking at a scam. A legitimate company will never ask winners to do that.

2. Use a credit card when traveling

A credit card offers you the most protection in case something goes wrong. You’ll be able to dispute unauthorized charges, and in most cases, reclaim your lost funds. Some cards even offer certain travel perks that help your trip go off without a hitch.

If you’re looking for the perfect travel companion, check out our Platinum Visa card. It gives you an unbeatable combination of low rates along with valuable benefits and is accepted by millions of merchants worldwide. Already one of our current cardholders? We are running a Special Visa Balance Transfer Offer for a limited time. Existing cardholders can transfer their balances and receive 1.99% APR* for 12 months. New Platinum Cardholders can receive this low introductory rate on all purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers as well**.

Make sure you have the perfect card to go along with you on your dream vacation!

3. Ignore celebrity messages

A direct text from a movie star, singer or athlete asking for money for a charity or claiming you’ve won a prize, but need to pay a processing fee, is a scam.

4. Check for skimmers at the pump

If you’ll be pumping gas in unfamiliar places, check the card reader for skimmers, which can relay your credit or debit card information to a scammer.

To check for a skimmer, try wiggling the card reader; this should dislodge a skimmer if there is one. Next, check to see if the keypad looks newer than the rest of the card reader. Finally, touch the surface of the keypad to see if it’s raised.

5. Research vacation rentals carefully 

Before booking a vacation rental, read the reviews of previous guests. If there aren’t any, or they don’t sound authentic, you’re likely looking at a scam. You can also lookup the address of the rental to see if it actually exists and if the location matches the description in the listing. Finally, as mentioned above, use a credit card to pay for the stay so you can dispute the charges if it ends up being a scam.

6. Vet potential contractors well

It’s best to only hire contractors you’ve personally reached out to instead of hiring one that comes knocking on your door. Also, before hiring, research a potential contractor carefully, asking for contact info of previous clients, checking out their online presence, and looking up the business on the BBB website. Finally, don’t agree to pay more than a third of the total cost of a job before the work starts.

*APR=Annual Percentage Rate.
**Existing Cards: Offer valid for Visa Platinum only (not Secured or Credit Rebuilders) for Accounts open prior to 1/15/2021 for balance transfers initiated between 1/15/2021 and 12/31/2021. 1.99% APR is valid for 12 billing cycles from the date of the transaction with a 1.00% fee on the transaction amount (minimum $10.00). After 12 billing cycles, the balance of the transaction reverts to the standard variable APR 8.90% to 18.90% based on your creditworthiness. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. Multiple transfers will be treated individually and expire individually. There will be a message on the statement one month prior to the rate expiration - Please be advised your 1.99% rate will end XX/XX/XX. New Cards: Offer valid for Visa Platinum only (not Secured or Credit Rebuilders) for Accounts open between 1/15/2021 and 12/31/2021. 1.99% APR is valid on all purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles from the account opening date. A 1.00% fee will be charged on cash advances and balance transfers (minimum $10.00). After the promotional period, the entire balance on the card converts to the standard variable APR 8.90% to 18.90% based on your creditworthiness. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. There will be a message on the statement one month prior to the rate expiration - Please be advised your 1.99% rate will end XX/XX/XX.

We Florida Financial membership is required. Membership is open to individuals who live or work in select counties from Key West to Jacksonville. Members must maintain a savings account with a minimum balance of $5 for the duration of their membership.