Georgia’s BBB warns of holiday scams targeting Labor Day travelers

ATLANTA (WRBL) — Labor Day may mark the unofficial end of summer, but it also marks the start of a busy season for scammers.

The Better Business Bureau of Georgia says it’s seeing an uptick in vacation rental and shopping scams targeting people looking for travel deals this holiday weekend.

“Vacation rental scams are on the rise,” said Taelor Hicks with the BBB of Georgia. “People book on a site they’ve never used before, and the property isn’t legitimate. If you’re traveling, we recommend using a trusted platform like Airbnb or another verified site.”

The BBB says many scammers solicit travelers through emails, phone calls, or text messages, offering a discounted rental if you pay a deposit up front. Victims are often left with no reservation and no way to recover their money.

Cyber criminals are also targeting shoppers through fake hotel and car rental deals, phishing emails, and too-good-to-be-true social media ads.

“Always double check the website URL and make sure it starts with https://,” Hicks said. “And if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.”

The BBB recommends using a credit card instead of a debit card for purchases, since credit cards provide more protection if you need to dispute fraudulent charges.

If you suspect a scam or become a victim, you can file a report at:

• BBB Scam Tracker: bbb.org/scamtracker
• FTC Fraud Reporting: reportfraud.ftc.gov