BEND, OR -- Scams can be just as popular this time of year as mosquito bites and sunburns. Whether you’re heading out on vacation, moving or working on home improvement projects, cyber security expert Adam Levin says there are easy ways to keep from becoming a target.
Levin tells KBND News vacation rental scams abound, especially for those who choose not to use services like AirBnB. "You go online, you look for what appears to be a deal, you call and talk with somebody or you email somebody; you show up on the appointed day and someone opens the door looking at you strangely. Or, you put your key in the door and someone looks at you and goes ‘what are you doing here?’" But, he says you can avoid being taken advantage of by researching the rental online. "If it says you’re speaking to a real estate agent, then confirm the legitimacy and existence of that agency; you can do that online. You can also check the ad and then match it against other things you may see on Google and if it comes up where it looks like different people are offering the same property for rent that could be an issue."
He says young people can easily fall prey to employment scams and identity theft, this time of year. Levin cautions against turning over a social security number too early. "You should never be providing that kind of information until you confirmed it’s a legitimate job with a legitimate organization, you’ve talked with someone from the organization; you confirm that they’re real. Then, if they say, ‘we need to do a background check, we need your Social Security Number for W9 purposes, or whatever,’ then it’s OK. But, you still have to be careful."
Summer is also a popular time for door-to-door salesmen. But, Levin warns against turning anything over to a solicitor. Whether it’s a construction worker claiming to be doing a project in the neighborhood or someone who says they represent a local charity, Levin says, "It’s important to have them prove to you with credentials that they are, or to go online and independently confirm that the company, their business is door-to-door. And don’t give out personal information and don’t simply give someone a check!"
Click HERE to listen to our full conversation with Adam Levin, or visit our Podcast Page.
