Fort
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As groundbreaking leaders in personal security and risk management for travelers, we stand ready to equip and serve as you are called to the ends of the Earth.
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ARE YOU PREPARED?
Faith-based guidance and practice in prevention, protection, interaction, and survival
Vertical Divider
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Collaborative workshops on assessing risks, mitigating crises, and managing contingencies
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Partner together to provide 24/7 emergency access, consultation, and threat analysis
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NEWS, ADVICE, & TIPS FOR YOU
"Your Uber Is Here!" …Or Is It? Avoiding the Fake Ride-share Scam
After a long international flight, your brain is running on one cup of airport coffee and blind optimism. You're tired, jet-lagged, and hauling enough luggage to qualify as a pack mule. Then someone calls your name. "John?" A smiling driver is standing outside the terminal. He has a car. You have bags. It feels like destiny. Or a scam. Fake rideshare drivers have become a common problem at airports around the world. They wait near arrivals, looking for tired travelers. Instead of being assigned through the app, they simply ask, "Are you John?" or "Need an Uber?" If you answer with your name, you've just helped them convince you they're your driver. From there, the ride may end with an inflated fare, a stop at an ATM, or, in more serious cases, robbery or assault. Why does this work? Because criminals understand human nature. After hours of travel, most people stop verifying and start hoping. Fatigue is a wonderful travel companion—just not for good decision-making. For ministry teams or business travelers, one bad ride can affect everyone. A stolen phone, lost passport, or missing teammate can quickly derail an entire trip. Fortunately, this scam is one of the easiest to avoid. How to Avoid the Fake Rideshare Scam ~ Book your ride through the official app only. Never accept transportation from someone who approaches you offering a ride. ~ Ask, don't answer. Instead of saying, "Are you here for John?" ask, "Who are you picking up?" The driver should provide your name without prompting. ~ Verify the vehicle. Check the license plate, make, model, and color against the information in the app before opening the door. ~ Confirm the driver's photo and name match what appears in the app. ~ Never enter a vehicle if anything doesn't match. Cancel the ride and request another. ~ Share your trip with a family member or teammate using the rideshare app's built-in tracking feature. ~ Travel together whenever possible, especially when arriving late at night or in unfamiliar countries. ~ Trust your instincts. If the interaction feels rushed, confusing, or "off," walk back inside the airport or to an official transportation desk. Travel security isn't about being suspicious of everyone. It's about verifying before you trust. Because the only surprise waiting outside the airport should be the price of bottled water—not that your "Uber" wasn't actually your Uber. |
Don't Scan Yourself Into Trouble
QR codes have become the duct tape of modern travel—they're everywhere, and somehow they're expected to solve everything.
Need a menu? Scan here. Pay for parking? Scan here. Buy train tickets? Scan here. Before long, you're scanning random squares like you're collecting digital Pokémon.
Unfortunately, criminals are counting on exactly that.
Instead of stealing your wallet, they steal your trust.
Scammers have begun placing fake QR code stickers over legitimate ones on restaurant tables, parking meters, transit kiosks, and tourist attractions. One innocent scan can send you to a professional-looking website that asks for your credit card, login credentials, or payment information. Congratulations—you've just tipped the hacker instead of the waiter.
This isn't just a clever idea; it's happening. In cities across Europe, fake QR codes have been found on public parking meters, directing drivers to fraudulent payment sites that happily accepted credit cards... while never paying for parking. Diners have also encountered counterfeit QR menu codes leading to phishing websites instead of appetizers. Nothing ruins pasta quite like identity theft.
Why does this scam work so well?
Because QR codes are little mystery boxes. You can see a web address printed on a sign, but a QR code hides the destination until after you scan it. Criminals know most travelers are in a hurry, distracted, or simply assume, "If it's printed, it must be legitimate."
For ministry teams, business travelers, and humanitarian organizations, the stakes are even higher. A compromised phone may contain banking apps, travel itineraries, ministry contacts, passwords, or sensitive organizational information. One careless scan can become everyone else's problem.
Fortunately, avoiding this scam doesn't require a computer science degree.
How to Outsmart the QR Code Scam
~ Inspect QR codes before scanning. A sticker placed over another code is a huge warning sign.
~ Most smartphones show the website before opening it. Read the address carefully before tapping.
~ Watch for strange, shortened, or misspelled web addresses.
~ When possible, use the business's official website or app instead of a public QR code.
~ Never enter payment information unless you're certain you're on the legitimate site.
~ Keep your phone updated with the latest security patches.
~ If something seems odd, ask an employee before scanning.
Technology is a wonderful travel companion—but convenience should never replace common sense.
Because the only thing you should be scanning on vacation is the dessert menu... not your bank account into someone else's.
QR codes have become the duct tape of modern travel—they're everywhere, and somehow they're expected to solve everything.
Need a menu? Scan here. Pay for parking? Scan here. Buy train tickets? Scan here. Before long, you're scanning random squares like you're collecting digital Pokémon.
Unfortunately, criminals are counting on exactly that.
Instead of stealing your wallet, they steal your trust.
Scammers have begun placing fake QR code stickers over legitimate ones on restaurant tables, parking meters, transit kiosks, and tourist attractions. One innocent scan can send you to a professional-looking website that asks for your credit card, login credentials, or payment information. Congratulations—you've just tipped the hacker instead of the waiter.
This isn't just a clever idea; it's happening. In cities across Europe, fake QR codes have been found on public parking meters, directing drivers to fraudulent payment sites that happily accepted credit cards... while never paying for parking. Diners have also encountered counterfeit QR menu codes leading to phishing websites instead of appetizers. Nothing ruins pasta quite like identity theft.
Why does this scam work so well?
Because QR codes are little mystery boxes. You can see a web address printed on a sign, but a QR code hides the destination until after you scan it. Criminals know most travelers are in a hurry, distracted, or simply assume, "If it's printed, it must be legitimate."
For ministry teams, business travelers, and humanitarian organizations, the stakes are even higher. A compromised phone may contain banking apps, travel itineraries, ministry contacts, passwords, or sensitive organizational information. One careless scan can become everyone else's problem.
Fortunately, avoiding this scam doesn't require a computer science degree.
How to Outsmart the QR Code Scam
~ Inspect QR codes before scanning. A sticker placed over another code is a huge warning sign.
~ Most smartphones show the website before opening it. Read the address carefully before tapping.
~ Watch for strange, shortened, or misspelled web addresses.
~ When possible, use the business's official website or app instead of a public QR code.
~ Never enter payment information unless you're certain you're on the legitimate site.
~ Keep your phone updated with the latest security patches.
~ If something seems odd, ask an employee before scanning.
Technology is a wonderful travel companion—but convenience should never replace common sense.
Because the only thing you should be scanning on vacation is the dessert menu... not your bank account into someone else's.
Vacation Mode On. Cybersecurity Off? Think Again.
Summer is the season for vacations, mission trips, family adventures, and business travel. It's also open season for cybercriminals.
While you're planning hiking trails, historic landmarks, or finding the best gelato in town, someone else may be planning how to access your phone, laptop, or tablet. To them, tourists are the perfect target: distracted, tired, unfamiliar with their surroundings, and usually carrying enough technology to run a small office.
Let's be honest—most of us guard our passports better than our phones. Yet if someone stole your phone today, they might gain access to your banking apps, email, passwords, airline tickets, photos, contacts, and enough personal information to make your next vacation a meeting with your bank's fraud department.
Cybercriminals don't have to be smarter than you. They just have to catch you before your first cup of coffee.
One popular tactic is creating a fake public Wi-Fi network with a name nearly identical to the legitimate one. Instead of connecting to "Hilton Guest Wi-Fi," a traveler accidentally joins "Hilton_Guest_Free." It looks close enough, especially after ten hours on an airplane. The hacker now sits quietly between you and the internet, collecting information while you happily upload vacation photos.
Another common threat is "juice jacking." A compromised charging station can potentially transfer data or attempt to install malicious software on a connected device. It's one more reason to pack your own charging block instead of trusting the mystery USB port that's seen more travelers than TSA.
The reason these attacks work is simple: travelers are distracted. They're tired, unfamiliar with their surroundings, and often willing to trade a little caution for convenience. Cybercriminals know this. To them, your vacation is simply another business opportunity.
Fortunately, protecting yourself doesn't require being a cybersecurity expert.
Cybersecurity Checklist Before You Travel
~ Update every device before leaving home, including phones, laptops, tablets, and smartwatches.
~ Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on email, banking, and important accounts.
~ Avoid public Wi-Fi whenever possible. Use your cellular connection or a trusted VPN.
~ Turn off automatic Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections when not in use.
~ Use official charging adapters and your own power bank. Avoid plugging directly into unknown public USB charging ports.
~ Lock every device with a strong PIN or password authentication.
~ Back up important data before your trip.
~ Think before you click or scan. If a website, QR code, or login page feels suspicious, verify it first.
The best travel memories come home with you. Your passwords, banking information, and ministry contacts shouldn't stay behind.
After all, the only thing you should be bringing home from vacation is a few extra photos… and maybe a couple extra pounds from all the local desserts.
Summer is the season for vacations, mission trips, family adventures, and business travel. It's also open season for cybercriminals.
While you're planning hiking trails, historic landmarks, or finding the best gelato in town, someone else may be planning how to access your phone, laptop, or tablet. To them, tourists are the perfect target: distracted, tired, unfamiliar with their surroundings, and usually carrying enough technology to run a small office.
Let's be honest—most of us guard our passports better than our phones. Yet if someone stole your phone today, they might gain access to your banking apps, email, passwords, airline tickets, photos, contacts, and enough personal information to make your next vacation a meeting with your bank's fraud department.
Cybercriminals don't have to be smarter than you. They just have to catch you before your first cup of coffee.
One popular tactic is creating a fake public Wi-Fi network with a name nearly identical to the legitimate one. Instead of connecting to "Hilton Guest Wi-Fi," a traveler accidentally joins "Hilton_Guest_Free." It looks close enough, especially after ten hours on an airplane. The hacker now sits quietly between you and the internet, collecting information while you happily upload vacation photos.
Another common threat is "juice jacking." A compromised charging station can potentially transfer data or attempt to install malicious software on a connected device. It's one more reason to pack your own charging block instead of trusting the mystery USB port that's seen more travelers than TSA.
The reason these attacks work is simple: travelers are distracted. They're tired, unfamiliar with their surroundings, and often willing to trade a little caution for convenience. Cybercriminals know this. To them, your vacation is simply another business opportunity.
Fortunately, protecting yourself doesn't require being a cybersecurity expert.
Cybersecurity Checklist Before You Travel
~ Update every device before leaving home, including phones, laptops, tablets, and smartwatches.
~ Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on email, banking, and important accounts.
~ Avoid public Wi-Fi whenever possible. Use your cellular connection or a trusted VPN.
~ Turn off automatic Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections when not in use.
~ Use official charging adapters and your own power bank. Avoid plugging directly into unknown public USB charging ports.
~ Lock every device with a strong PIN or password authentication.
~ Back up important data before your trip.
~ Think before you click or scan. If a website, QR code, or login page feels suspicious, verify it first.
The best travel memories come home with you. Your passwords, banking information, and ministry contacts shouldn't stay behind.
After all, the only thing you should be bringing home from vacation is a few extra photos… and maybe a couple extra pounds from all the local desserts.
