Party Crashers: The Latest Scam
If you have seen the movie Wedding Crashers, you are familiar with young adults acting like spoiled, self-centered juveniles out to ruin your wedding or special event. The latest scam, however, doesn't require the crashers to attend your event to ruin it. Rather, they look for websites that are not password protected, such as those created on popular sites like TheKnot.com or WeddingChannel.com.
A great amount of information can be found on event websites, often including the location of the event, the hotel or resort where a discounted block of rooms has been created, gift registry information and more. By accessing a website, and with a bit of sleuthing, someone may be able to locate a home address where they can intercept packages from up-scale retailers left by the mail carrier or delivery driver. They can learn where and when the event will occur and drop by for a free drink, appetizer and perhaps the cards as well.
Upscale hotels and resorts are increasingly reporting people who book rooms under someone else's block to take advantage of the discount and possibly other perks offered. A family visiting a resort or an expensive hotel can potentially save hundreds of dollars by claiming to be part of a family reunion or wedding guests.
So what can we, the potential victims, do to protect ourselves? First, if you create a website for your event, which according to TheKnot.com, 68 percent of brides and grooms do, protect it with a password. Share the password only with family and friends who have a need for the information. If you include the website link and password in your invitation, it could fall into the hands of unintended individuals. Therefore, you may want to send the information by email directly to the intended recipients.
If you are tech savvy or have a friend who is, you may want to create your own private, password protected website rather than using a well-known site.
If gifts may be delivered to a home or apartment when no one is home, consider having them delivered instead to the home of a parent or to an office, if appropriate.
To protect your room block, check with the hotel or resort before the block expires to find out who has made a reservation. If you don't recognize a name, ask the hotel to contact the person and verify that they are indeed one of your guests (people may have married or divorced, changing their name). Often, when challenged, an intruder will cancel their reservation. If your block is nearing capacity and a stranger books a room, some of your guests may not receive the discount. On the other hand, if your block will soon expire and only a few rooms have been reserved, you may not care if someone "intrudes."
With today's technology, people who are up to no good can find ways to interfere with your event. So be careful, watch what you share publicly, and be vigilant. No only might a wedding or party crasher be lurking, but it could be an ex-spouse, old boyfriend or girlfriend or someone else who might do something worse than steal your gifts.
A great amount of information can be found on event websites, often including the location of the event, the hotel or resort where a discounted block of rooms has been created, gift registry information and more. By accessing a website, and with a bit of sleuthing, someone may be able to locate a home address where they can intercept packages from up-scale retailers left by the mail carrier or delivery driver. They can learn where and when the event will occur and drop by for a free drink, appetizer and perhaps the cards as well.
Upscale hotels and resorts are increasingly reporting people who book rooms under someone else's block to take advantage of the discount and possibly other perks offered. A family visiting a resort or an expensive hotel can potentially save hundreds of dollars by claiming to be part of a family reunion or wedding guests.
So what can we, the potential victims, do to protect ourselves? First, if you create a website for your event, which according to TheKnot.com, 68 percent of brides and grooms do, protect it with a password. Share the password only with family and friends who have a need for the information. If you include the website link and password in your invitation, it could fall into the hands of unintended individuals. Therefore, you may want to send the information by email directly to the intended recipients.
If you are tech savvy or have a friend who is, you may want to create your own private, password protected website rather than using a well-known site.
If gifts may be delivered to a home or apartment when no one is home, consider having them delivered instead to the home of a parent or to an office, if appropriate.
To protect your room block, check with the hotel or resort before the block expires to find out who has made a reservation. If you don't recognize a name, ask the hotel to contact the person and verify that they are indeed one of your guests (people may have married or divorced, changing their name). Often, when challenged, an intruder will cancel their reservation. If your block is nearing capacity and a stranger books a room, some of your guests may not receive the discount. On the other hand, if your block will soon expire and only a few rooms have been reserved, you may not care if someone "intrudes."
With today's technology, people who are up to no good can find ways to interfere with your event. So be careful, watch what you share publicly, and be vigilant. No only might a wedding or party crasher be lurking, but it could be an ex-spouse, old boyfriend or girlfriend or someone else who might do something worse than steal your gifts.
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