Two years of pandemic have significantly limited Norwegians’ travel activity. Shutting down and travel restrictions have meant that many have stayed at home. Now the travel companies are reporting a large influx of Norwegians who want to travel. But travel abroad can also open the door to being scammed. – My best advice is that it is allowed to be a little skeptical. Sebastian Claydon Takle tells news. He is head of department for the Financial Cyber Crime Center in DNB. Sebastian Claydon Takle encourages Norwegian tourists to be aware: – There are always people who try to trick us to get our money, regardless of how we choose to pay, he says. Photo: PRESS PHOTO / DNB Do not let yourself be pressured They have seen an upswing in cases from the Canary Islands where some are tricked into electronics stores and misled into buying tablets and other electronics. Often at too high a price. – As a rule, you see that what you have agreed to is too good to be true, or that you had a feeling that something was wrong. It is important that you stop, talk to someone else and do not allow yourself to be pressured to agree to what is happening, he advises. Precisely the purchase of electronics, carpets, gold and jewelery at far too high a price are areas where tourists can easily fall into the trap. At the same time, it is wise to pay attention when paying. – Basically, it is safe to use the card when traveling. In recent years, many countries have undergone a digitalisation that makes card payments both accessible and practical, says Takle, and continues: – But it is important to be aware that there are players out there who do not want you well. There are always some who try to trick us into getting our money, no matter how we choose to pay. Safe to pay by card He receives support from Ida Marie Edholm. She is a fraud expert at Nordea. – It is important that you are with the card at all times. Do not give it away when you pay so they can take it with them. But in general it is safe to pay by card, she says. Takle points out that it is important to be sure that the correct amount has been entered at the bank terminal. – More and more terminals abroad are now switching to contactless payment. I recommend that you do not give away the card, but even “beep” the card when you see that the correct amount has been entered. When buying gold, diamonds and other exclusive goods, one should ask for a certificate. Ida Marie Edholm is Nordea’s fraud expert. She encourages tourists not to give away payment cards. Photo: Presse / Nordea So what do you do if you discover that you have been scammed? – The most important thing is to report to the bank immediately. Then we can help you further. Maybe we need to advertise some transactions, reset some security tools or arrange a new card. In any case, it is important that we are notified as soon as possible, says Takle. – It may be a good idea to bring several bank cards with you, so that you have the opportunity to pay, even if one of the cards is blocked, says Edholm. Tips for using cards on holiday Always bring at least two cards on holiday in case something should happen to one of the cards. Keep the cards in different places in case of theft, so you avoid losing them all. If a card goes astray, block it immediately. Memorize pin code. It should not be stored with the card. Keep the card under supervision at all times when paying. Do not give away your card in a shop, bar or restaurant. Rather join the payment terminal. Enter SMS notification for amounts over a selected size of your cards so that you are notified when the cards are used. Check that the amount is correct before you pay. When you close the card and / or enter the pin code, you also approve the amount charged to the card. Hide PIN entry even if you do not see anyone nearby. ATMs or petrol pumps may have copying equipment, so-called skimming, fitted. Take care of receipts and check against the bank statement or credit card invoice when you get home. When buying goods abroad, always check that the price matches what you pay. Use a credit card when you book a trip, hotel, plane or rental car, and you will avoid reservations in your checking account. Source: DNB. Use credit cards – We get quite a few inquiries about problems related to holidays, but just because you feel cheated does not necessarily mean that you have been scammed. Linn Hogner Jahr, director of Consumer Europe, says, and continues: – It may be that you get cancellations just before departure, or that you disagree with terms or payment, or that misunderstandings arise. Otherwise, for example, you will have rented a holiday home that does not exist. It will often be difficult to know who the “seller” is, and they often use fictitious names, she says Tips if you are going to rent a holiday apartment Check reviews from other tenants, either on the website you book through or on e.g. Tripadvisor. Pay by card – then you may have the opportunity to complain to the bank if things go wrong. Check who the landlord is. Is it an individual or a company? Please note that some companies are only intermediaries who do not assume responsibility for the lease. The lease must specify exactly what you are paying for and what the total price is. Additional costs for borrowing bed linen, cleaning and the like should be regulated in the contract. The deposit should not be disproportionately large – 10 percent of the rental price may be reasonable, while more than 25 percent is clearly too much. Take a screenshot along the way to keep track. In addition, you have documentation in the event of a complaint afterwards. Complain to the landlord quickly if problems should arise. Source: Consumer Europe In general, Consumer Europe recommends using credit cards when traveling. – Then you get the opportunity to use a card complaint, which is a quick and efficient way to get your money back. If you experience fraud, you should take care of all documentation. If it is a case of fraud, you should contact the police, she says. If you are exposed to fraud, travel insurance cannot help you, says Andreas Bibow Handeland. He is communications director at If and European Travel Insurance. Photo: KILIAN MUNCH The insurance does not help Andreas Handeland is communications director at If and European Travel Insurance. He is aware that travel insurance does not cover embezzlement and fraud. – We replace theft and robbery, as long as it can be linked to an incident. So then we need a police report. Handeland encourages travelers to avoid walking around with too much cash. – We regularly experience cases with customers who have walked around with too much cash. It does not happen often, but it does happen. So avoid too much cash in your pockets, so you do not become an attractive victim.
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Scammed on vacation? – here are the expert advice – news Nordland
