Tag Archives: scams

Frequent flyer miles and travel rewards are worth money and just like money can be stolen. Protect your frequent flyer miles from hackers and theft from out of your account or wallet. Most of us just let them accumulate in our frequent flyer or mileage rewards accounts without much thought until it’s time for a flight upgrade, vacation, or redemption for merchandise. Thieves think of loyalty points or frequent flier miles as currency and that is why they target mileage and loyalty accounts for theft because they are valuable. According to Comparitech, hackers have now started infiltrating frequent flyer accounts and are selling stolen reward miles on the dark web.

How Thieves Steal Frequent Flyer Points

Thieves just need access to your account to book flights or hotels with your points or to transfer the points out for cash, gift cards, or merchandise. So how do they get access to your online accounts? The answer is by phishing scams and password theft. Once they have your login credentials they are in your account and your valuable points are at risk. Your personal data is becoming increasingly easy for thieves to steal via data breaches as data breaches are occurring multiple times a day each and every day.

What Hackers Do with Stolen Frequent Flyer Miles

Your frequent flyer miles can actually be sold on the dark web for money. The dark web is a network of black market sites for the selling of personal data including various account information details, credit card numbers, and social security numbers. Typically, redeemed frequent flyer points are valued at one to two cents per point or mile. Consider that an account holding 100,000 miles is then worth between $1000 and $2000. Miles from popular airlines like Delta, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic were listed for sale from $1,000. For 100,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles, one dark web seller was asking for $884. Another listing offered 45,000 Delta SkyMiles for $884. So you can see frequent flyer miles are valuable to thieves and hackers. The purchaser can possibly transfer the miles to their account and they can definitely buy many different types of gift cards, which of course, can’t be traced.

How to Protect Your Miles From Hackers and Theft

Follow these actions to mitigate the risk of having your frequent flyer accounts hacked.

  1. Check your account balances regularly so you know how many points you have. Once a month is a good rule of thumb. if you notice any changes not authorized by you report them.
  2. Rip up or shred boarding passes immediately after your flight as they can have your account number plus your name printed on them.
  3. Use a strong and complex username and password, remember you’re guarding valuable points.
  4. If your login suddenly doesn’t work, contact the airline or credit card points, program administrator.
  5. Set up email auto alerts that are sent went points are withdrawn. Look under the “settings” tab to set up auto alerts or contact the site customer service team for advice on how to do so.
  6. Use a points manager program where you consolidate and track all your points and miles. A good one is Awardwallet.com as they will notify you of any withdrawals.
  7. Don’t use free public WiFi to access your frequent flier account.
  8. Don’t put your frequent flier account number on your bag tag.

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Cell phone theft is something to be concerned about both at home and especially when traveling. Imagine losing your method of communication, photos, images of your passport stored on your phone, and other private information including all your contacts!

Watch these videos of cell phones being stolen. Learn from watching thefts so you don’t become a victim. After watching the videos read on for tips and advice for keeping your cell phone on your person and out of the hands of thieves and con artists.

These short videos captured actual cell phone thefts in action. See how easy it is to steal an expensive cell phone. Some of these cell phone theft videos show snatch and run thefts, and others you may have to watch a few times to see the exact moment a skilled distraction thief steals the victim’s phone while the thief is talking directly to the victim.

Video # 1  Fake petition – cell phone theft scam

Video # 2 Two female thieves stealing an iPhone from a restaurant table

Video # 3 Team of female pickpockets using a young 7-year-old child to steal an iPhone

Video # 4 Cell phone theft on a Hungarian subway

Here are a few tips to help keep your cell phone safe from theft while traveling

1. Know Your Surroundings

Situational awareness is very important when it comes to preventing the theft of cell phones. As you saw by many If you’re thinking of using your phone in a public place, take a look around. As you saw in the videos, cell phone thieves look for people who are not paying attention to their surroundings.

2. Cell Phone Anti-Theft Carry and Storage Options

Sometimes you need to safeguard your cell phone, but don’t know where to store it because you don’t want to carry a travel bag, purse, or you are wearing shorts or pants that don’t have pockets.  Here are a few anti-theft cell phone bags and gear to help you keep your phone secure when it’s not in use.

At The Beach

When you’re at the beach, where can you store your phone?  Consider one of a number of waterproof cell phone pouches that will do the trick. From waterproof waist packs, waterproof cell phone cases, waterproof neck, belt, or armbands will let you take your phone with you and keep it dry. If you don’t want to keep it on your person there are many secure options such as portable beach and pool safes, locking beach bags, as well as small portable safes that secure to your beach or lounge chair.

Cell Phone Security Pouches  for When Your Pants or Shorts Don’t Have Pockets

If you don’t have pockets, and you don’t want to carry a purse or travel bag, you have several options to carry your cell phone and other small valuables. The Tube Wearable Waistband is a stretchy fabric waistband that you wear around your waist under your shirt and has several pockets that will hold your phone.  Women have several cell phone security ideas to pick from, You can see ideal styles here.

If you don’t want to carry your phone in your pocket and want something a little more secure and not as visible, consider the Belt Loop Wallet, which is a pouch that you attach to your belt and wear it concealed in the inside of your pants.