Triad, NC - The first day of summer is a week from Wednesday, and with the summer comes a wave of new schemes trying to take advantage of consumers.
The Better Business Bureau told News 2 a new target for schemes is online hotel reservations, and with many people planning summer vacations, it is a good opportunity for criminals to strike.
To protect yourself, the Better Business Bureau advises paying with a credit or debit card when booking online because it adds an extra layer of protection that cash or checks do not provide.
Another tip is to never give away personal information via email, and use third party sites such as PayPal.
Online schemes resulted in consumer loses of $1.1 billion dollars in 2006, and these careful steps will keep you from adding to the already staggering losses.