How to Steal from Business Travelers

Everyone knows business travelers stand out. Whether on vacation with your family or a quick business trip, this leads to an abundance of scams which can leave you the victim of theft without ever knowing what happened.

So what are some of the most common travel scams and how can you avoid them? Check these out:

1.At the Curb
Where: Checking in at Curbside.

How: Curbside check-in is a great convenience. But once you hand over your bags, where does it go? Usually it sits for a few minutes on a cart while the skycap is helping another customer.

This is the perfect opportunity for anyone to pick up your luggage.

What to do: Pay attention. Do not give your bags to anyone you don’t feel comfortable with. Make sure you wait until he is almost full before dropping off your luggage.

2.At The Hotel

Where: The front desk.

How: Waiting to check in at the hotel lobby, you put your bags beside you or in front of you. All of the sudden, a man tries to push past you, saying he needs to get to the front and he’ll only be a minute. A baby starts crying directly next to your left ear. A third person you don’t notice takes your bag as you’re distracted.

What to do: Keep your eyes on your bags, especially when there is a lot going on around you.

3.In the airport
Where: Airport bathroom.

How: This scam works for both sexes, though the execution is different for each. When a woman goes in the bathroom stall and hangs her purse on a hook high on the door, she makes it real easy for someone to take it while she’s getting the paper toilet cover from the wall.

With men, many times their wallets are practically hanging out of their pants pockets, making it easy to grab it from under the next stall.

What to do: Both women and men should not carry unnecessary cash, credit cards, or anything else. Put your wallet in a breast pocket or somewhere that thieves do not have access to.

4.On the plane
Where: While flying.

How: Rear-seat passengers put their carry-on bags in the bins close to the first row of the plane due to lack of overhead bin space and laziness. By the time you get to your bag, it’s disappeared.

What to Do: Keep your carry-ons with you at all times.

5.On the way to baggage claim
Where: Arriving at your destination.

How: The escalators and baggage claim areas are teeming with thieves. These are easy places because people are always in a hurry to claim their property, and may be lax with what they are carrying with them. Escalators are easy to pick up rolling carry-on luggage. People also pick up unclaimed property at the baggage claim without worry of being detected by security.

A conversation with a stranger allows your baggage to be taken by someone else while distracted.

What to Do: Keep everything close to you on the escalator. When claiming your bags, make sure you stay until all the bags have been taken off the conveyor belt if you still haven’t found yours. Pay attention to your stuff at all times, even when distracted.

6.On the Airport Shuttle

Where: On free transportation to pick up a rental car or get to your hotel.

How: When you hand the driver your luggage, he doesn’t remember what it looks like when you get off. You may get on at the first stop, and another person boards at the second.

He then gets off before you, and tells the driver your bags are his when the driver gets them for him.

What to do: Try to pack light so you can keep your luggage with you. Pay attention to the bags that leave before you.

Jim Warren is a consumer advocate, loves to travel and help consumers avoid costly travel mistakes. He reveals insider secrets hotels, airlines, car rental agencies and cruise lines don’t want you to know. For more info: http://www.costlytravelmistakes.com

business trip travel scams