Full Show: Dangerous Cell Phone Scam You Need To Know and Clark’s Updated Hotel Searching Advice

[@boggy7665]

I took two different steps. Sim-swap protection with the carrier, to protect against a remote theft of my sim. Also put a sim lock on my phone, to prevent someone with physical access to my phone from moving the physical sim to a different phone, or from using the phone after power-up. Have to enter a code on phone start-up. (Different than the screen lock).

[@Clark]

Great tips, Clarkie! 🙌

[@pamelahughes1469]

Also beware of major car rental places. We had car rental reservations in AZ, we landed at a small airport and had to take a lift to the major car rental place. We had a wedding to attend 3 hrs later. The location had no car for us so we had to lift again to the wedding and pay $50 and got to the family wedding literally 20 minutes before it was to start. So call the location to make sure they have your car. What a horrible, stressful experience.

[@luanneneill2877]

Similar thing happened to us except I was able to avert the problem. I made an in-person reservation for a van in March and had the printout of it. Four days before leaving in July, I stopped back at the location with the printout to confirm that everything was a go and they said the reservation wasn’t in their system and that it was a good thing that I had the printout. She redid the reservation, called her boss to alert him that they needed a van in four days, and let me know that it was now $30/day cheaper than when I’d first made it. At the time that I’d made the reservation, they told me that the earlier one makes it, the less it would cost. This is usually true, she said but because of something recent, like extra vans or something being released, the price was actually cheaper. It would make sense to not only confirm the reservation ahead of time, but ask about the price, too.

[@PartyPix360]

Good information. Hotel subject: My mother hated staying in hotels deeming the places as unclean, which is one reason my father brought a RV. Happy RV'ing!

[@scotboy1297]

Good until you have a disaster RV, with leaks,and multiple mechanical failures and no resolution.

[@muzykaml]

I would advise against an RV out west. You will end up either needing to tow a car or rent one anyway to actually get to more the scenic areas. Especially in National Parks, many of the roads (especially ones up mountainsides) will be inaccessible to you. I have done a couple cross country road-trips and my own personal approach to saving money is to get the cheapest tent and sleeping bag you can find and crash at RV parks or campgrounds along the way. If you want to be really cheap, look for campgrounds on national forest land. They will be at least half the price of a national park campground. You will occasionally find some that don't have water, so be sure to stock up on extra water for things like brushing your teeth, washing up, etc. I've also set up a tent on an RV park lot plenty of times - you can also try to find ones without hookups; they tend to be cheaper. But they will still usually have common shower / bathroom facilities (sometimes crappy wifi) But do yourself a favor, load up that trunk full of non-perishable food (canned chicken sandwiches are my go-to) because you will easily outeat your housing costs on a road trip!

[@205rider8]

Rented RV for 10 days out west. Zero problem with Class B RV. A Class B RV can even be driven through a drive through.

[@virginiamoss7045]

Regarding RV travel, the primary reason to not do the RV thing is that, if the thing breaks down (and they do) or needs any repairs, there are very few and far, far between places to get help. You may have to have it towed hundreds of miles and then have to wait for parts and to have those parts installed, taking weeks to get back to your quest to see as many western states as possible. For the meager cost savings, that and the lack of flexibility finding places to park is not worth it unless you accept the risks.

[@dougdoris8622]

I’ve been RVing for over ten years and have never been broken down. I have had some issues with things breaking but it is usually no problem. I have had one flat tire and I changed it very quickly.

[@virginiamoss7045]

@@dougdoris8622 How wonderful; I've always wanted to live that lifestyle for a while. Did you own your RV or did you rent? I would not trust a rental. Did you buy brand new or used if you did not rent? I would not trust a used RV.

[@dougdoris8622]

@@virginiamoss7045 I have owned three different RVs and all were new. The smart person buys a gently used one. We are retired and have visited 39 states. We travel slow and mainly in the shoulder seasons. We both enjoy the lifestyle and also enjoy the people we meet on the road. We are planning to travel to Alaska next May.

[@boggy7665]

@@virginiamoss7045 Numerous tales of woe about new RVs. You're not protected by lemon laws as with cars. For my money, I'd look for a gently used, newish one, that has the bugs worked out of it.

[@virginiamoss7045]

@@boggy7665 Good point. I've gotten to where I don't trust anything at all that I pay money for in the US anymore, from groceries to houses. There's no such thing as quality anymore.

[@juliejensen7370]

Your advice is invaluable, Clark! Several of my coworkers listen to you too. God bless!

[@14skp]

Great advice Clark! Just locked my SIM card on the Mint Mobile App - Account, under Security its called "Number Lock". Enable it and your SIM card and number are protected.

[@Clark]

Thanks for giving Mint Mobile customers clear instructions, Clarkie! 🙌

[@GaryBlouin]

Re: the Credit Drop after Missing Payment ... signing up for alerts of upcoming payments is a good idea but I really think setting up to pay the minimum amount due is a better idea. I pay all my cards in full, but I still have each card / account set up to pay the minimum due. Since I pay all my cards in full, the banks never pull the minimum due. However, if I ever got into an accident and couldn't tend to my accounts, I would at least know they were being paid on time. Yes, if I couldn't tend to my accounts, they would incur interest but that is much better than getting a hit on your credit profile. Edit: as part of my process when I pay accounts, I go through every account that I have even with ones I "know" I didn't make a charge against. Not uncommon I may have a renewal fee or forgot about a recurring charge. Therefore, everyone account gets touched even if it's for a second or two.

[@Purdey921]

i did the SIM lock and it was easy. During the process, the app tells me why I should do it. Exactly what you said. Thanks!

[@JBoomer-pi6ml]

Clark a few years ago I had a horrible hotel/Resort experience. The majority of the employees quit. I was up in the Poconos, and management was doing all of the routine work because employees just quit.

[@austinmillbarge8731]

When my Miami Beach apartment building closed during March (Spring Break) 2023 with a 15-day lease termination notice, I literally left the US since even Motel 6 was $149/night and 15 days is not sufficient time to shop for a new apartment without getting into an even worse position. 2 months is typical time to wait for a new apartment to come available, and spending $4,500/ month to "hotel it" in the same area is nuts. Whole swathes of the US are just not worth living in or visiting anymore due to the costs. Frankly, it's satisfying to know that all these gougers are going to collapse. The hotels I've been staying in in Latin America vary between $7-10/night, they have a hot water bathroom and are cleaned daily. I'm down to one debt balance, final payment Dec 1, 2024, all on an enlisted military pension. Good riddance, to the US economic gulag.

[@Clark]

You turned lemons to lemonade! 👏👏👏

[@prestonrobert2625]

Been 6 years since I last heard you. Still saving 20%. Looking better than a radio announcer...

[@magnoliap5824]

I bring cleaning wipes when I stay in hotels which isn’t often. I clean all handles, showers basin, tv remote etc. it’s no biggie to me. If it’s a road trip I bring my own pillow! I have one specific for this.

[@gharr1405]

Don't forget about the headboard

[@markdavidson9720]

@@gharr1405 and the bed bugs !

[@atlantabenplasma3895]

T-Mobile's "port out protection" feature is not the same thing as SIM swap protection. You could request a new SIM card without porting out.

[@godisgood789]

I am Disneyland Area business owner providing scooters to the handicap. What you are sharing about the hotels is real however here the hotels would never downscale the customer service to disappoint the guests. I believe it's fair to say to research every destination and check the Google reviews. Yelp I am not a fan of! They are not a fair and consistent review site to trust. In any case it's important to also work with a travel agent that does the leg work. I won't do any business with travel agents that don't do their homework and definitely will not work with Hotels that do not remodel or pay respect to customer service issues. It makes me mad how some businesses take advantage. So my advise is to do your own research and see where the reputation hits the mark!

[@dougdoris8622]

RV travel is expensive to get into because of the cost of RV and trucks that tow them. After that the main cost is Rv parks and fuel. We seldom stay in any park that charges more than $75 per day and most are 40-60 per day. Plus meal cost are lower because we only eat out a few times per week. Our RV is very comfortable and we love having all our own stuff with us. We go on trips of 6-8 weeks and we could not afford to stay in hotels.

[@AmyJo-54501]

And I wonder if they could use an app to find available BLM land out west which I understand is free or other low cost/ positive-reviewed places. Yes, I’ve never been “RVing” - just ppl I’ve talked to and videos I’ve watched. Perhaps someday…I think it might be a fun experience!

[@domfer2540]

Hotel story is very interesting. I am confused, why should there be anyone to check you in or have employees. If I owned a hotel, there would be cameras, customers would receive a room on line. When customer arrives they would text a number, credit card would be charged and a room number and pass code be sent to customer.

[@Clark]

Great idea! Similar to many Airbnb's. But most hotels aren't set up to operate with keyless entry, yet. 💚

[@elitepctech]

Thanks for the tip - Just enabled "Number lock" on my Google Fi phone.

[@Cat-qn1yw]

My phone carrier says if someone changes my email And request a new sim (mine is esim), their system catches it and locks my phone and a phone call them is required to unlock it. I hope that works!

[@marcygriffin7822]

Great information once again thank you 😊 both…😊

[@charlessommers7218]

Thank you

[@Musings-From-Mike]

I also have Google Fi, but there is nothing on my Google Fi app on my Pixel 8 phone that is a "simple button" to turn protection on. The only thing that comes close is a section under security and privacy to set up a "secret code" for communicating with Google Support. I did a screen shot of that code and emailed it to myself in case the phone stopped responding to me. But how am I supposed to implement sim-swap protection?

[@lyndacavener2078]

Verizon prepaid won’t let you do a number lock. Any suggestions?

[@marlontango]

Have a prepaid Verizon phone but prepaid doesn't offer sim lock but can add a security code.

[@Clark]

Yes, the security PIN is how you lock it. 💚

[@marietaylor5174]

Thank you Team Clark.

[@KDFantastic]

That is great advice on coordinating credit cards in the wallet. Thanks Clark ❤

[@grayfox9911]

Thanks Clark & team! NNTR

[@Keep-on-ok]

I’ve been doing credit freeze since 2004.

[@jeffkruse2000]

Thanks Clark!!!

[@ElleC-nb9em]

I have an iPhone 13 with Verizon service. Opened my Verizon app and typed SIM swap protection in search. The only option that appeared was Verizon Digital secure, which mainly protects against ID theft and malicious web surfing. Then opened my phone settings and could only find stolen device protection which I set up. How do you find it on an iPhone?

[@Clark]

As @boggy7665 said above, it's probably a good idea to lock your SIM on both the phone and provider. Try these steps below. On your iPhone: * Go to Settings > Cellular > SIM PIN. * Turn on your SIM PIN. * If asked, enter your SIM PIN. If you've never used one, enter the default SIM PIN from your carrier (Try 1111 or 1234). DO NOT TRY THIS MORE THAN TWICE because it will lock you out after 3 attempts. Check your carrier's customer service page or the documents that came with your wireless plan for the default SIM PIN. Or you can contact your carrier. * Create your new PIN then tap Done. On Verizon: * From Verizon Mobile Broadband Manager, click Menu (located in the upper-right). * Click Settings. * Click SIM PIN (located within the Connectivity section on the left). * Select (check or uncheck) Enable SIM Lock. * From the Enter PIN field, enter the current SIM PIN. (The default SIM PIN is 1111.) * Click Apply (located in the lower-right; may require scrolling to the bottom). >>>To lock the SIM after enabling, select (check or uncheck) Lock SIM. >>>From the Enter PIN field, enter the current SIM PIN. (The default SIM PIN is 1111.) >>>Click Apply (located in the lower-right; may require scrolling to the bottom). The PIN must be entered the next time the Mobile Broadband Manager app is accessed. Hope this helps! 💚

[@ElleC-nb9em]

@@Clark Thanks!

[@Clark]

​@@ElleC-nb9em You're welcome! Also, see @mcmahenc1 comment above about a Verizon flag.

[@ken2tou]

@@Clark, thank you! Longtime listener here. I used to listen to your radio program in Atlanta in the 90s. Always useful information. 👍🏼

[@w8what575]

iPhone being iPhone…u probably have to pay extra for it.. seems to be their MO since they took away the screen record function for phone calls and access to ur own data on ur own phone…they own the information in the phone which is why as soon as I can get a new phone I’m gonna spike this pos iPhone 11 as hard as I can off some concrete and record it and send it to iPhone…I will never have another apple product again. The greed is pungent and I refuse to be treated like this by a stupid corporation…they sell our data for profit…and then restrict us from being able to access our own data …they don’t deserve customers. I’m thinking about getting a house phone hooked up and getting rid of my cell phone…

[@tubecloyd]

Thanks, Clark. I tried to go onto T Mobile entering Sem block based on your audio. It's Sim block. Maybe change your pronunciation.

[@Clark]

Yes, SIM. Please excuse the southern drawl. 💚

[@Gumby1978]

Good show!

[@Jackman66666666]

Anything positive to report?

[@Clark]

Yes, today's episode (Friday) is full of positivity. Check it out! 💚

[@lulubell711]

Hello, this question is for Christa please. I am wanting to buy a new cell phone that takes great pictures. I want to make sure that you said you had a Samsung S24. Is it any specific one? My phone takes terrible pictures and I am going to splurge also. Thank you so much, Sandy

[@Clark]

Christa has the S23 Ultra. 💚

[@dpporlando]

If you have an oops with a late pay on a card ask the card issuer as a courtesy to waive the late fee and late reporting. Then check your credit and if the late reports, dispute the late it will most likely be removed.

[@Clark]

Great advice, Clarkie! 🙌

[@AlgonquinPrincess]

Wrong! That’s for less than 30 days late. Clark is ill-informed to suggest contacting the Credit Union Mgr. The credit card is likely a Visa or Master Card and more than 30 days late pay are automatically reported.

[@dpporlando]

@@AlgonquinPrincess Either you failed to read the entire comment or you didn't do both, 1) contact the issuer and get them to agree to remove the fee, and 2) dispute the late with the credit bureau(s) the late is reporting to. Also, this is not gonna work if the person attempting to get the late removed is a habitual offender.

[@iamg000]

I built myself a hobo van, absolutely cannot stay in a hotel anymore...

[@mcmahenc1]

If you have Verizon you need a PUK number to set up a SIM pin. If you just try going to settings to do it you will lock yourself out and you won’t even be able to use your phone to call Verizon for help. Just fyi.

[@Clark]

Thanks for flagging for Verizon customers, Clarkie! 🙌 @ElleC-nb9em See this comment.

[@madusonkeeper]

Credit feeze free!!

[@keith6872]

This is one excuse for hit and run. People do not want to be sued.

[@steveludwig4200]

PERFECT answer on the RV vs. Hotel for a long road trip....."Take a test trip in the RV". The "cost" difference will NOT be deciding factor most of the time, It will be the "experience" difference.

[@Z28videogates]

Agree. The RV will likely cost you more when you factor rental per day, crap gas mileage, cost PER mile (this is huge) plus a place to stay. I rented one to go to Idyllwild. It turns out there were cute little cabins in the same campground we were at! It would of been cheaper and easier to just use the car. We could of went into town later much easier as well. But the "campground" experience is nice too. There is a sense of community and very nice people.

[@TheLifetraveler1]

Wouldn't it be easier not to have a bank app on your phone. Thus making it harder for Sim swapping to be effective?

[@Clark]

It's less about the banking app and more about your text and email. The threat of SIM swapping is the 2-factor authentication code, which will come via text (most often) or email. 💚

[@JaniceCrowell]

You talk about credit freeze a lot but what is it?

[@Clark]

It's your best protection against identity theft because criminals are unable to open new lines of credit in your name. Here's more information with step-by-step instructions on how to set it up with each credit bureau 💚 clark.com/credit/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide/

[@w8what575]

It’s a pain if u use ur credit

[@fakedemocracy]

I mean nobody cares, people want to stay at hotels but people don’t want to work at them. I mean would you want to work overnight at a hotel for garbage pay?

[@fascination2525]

If you don't want to share close hotel quarters with dogs or have allergies, beware. I entered the lobby of a chain airport hotel recently where I had stayed 2 years earlier --- when it was pet-free. Long story short, I discovered at check-in that it is now VERY pet-friendly. There were dogs everywhere, and it smelled. I had booked non-refundable but would have walked away from the $ and gone elsewhere except that the only other airport hotel was full. I'll be much more careful booking hotels in the future.

[@audoko82]

What the best app for t mobile carriers far as Sim swap protection

[@Clark]

You don't need a 3rd party app. Go through your phone settings --> security to lock your SIM with a PIN. Also, go through T-Mobile's app to lock it through the provider. 💚

[@Scottsmusiccave]

You don't RV to save money you do it for the experience. Of course you tell your wife how much you're going to save when buying it so she'll approve.

[@Clark]

Ha! 😂

[@Demy1970]

Too many bed bugs. In these hotels, I’ll sleep in my car

[@marynoelwhelan6794]

Maybe bed and Breakfast is the way to go these days.

[@CandidLy1]

Agree

[@sharyn4271]

I’ve been doing this for years. It’s been cheaper, better amenities and I get a fabulous breakfast.

[@vincentcasolaro]

Why aren't the Sims locked by default?

[@Clark]

Good question! Probably because you have to set up a PIN to lock them. 💚

[@sk6056]

I have Visible and can't find any way to prevent/lock the porting of my number. Has anyone found it in the Visible system? If so, a heads up on where it's located or how it's done would be great. tks

[@Clark]

Activate a double layer of protection. First, lock your SIM with a PIN on your device, then do a Line Lock with Visible. SIM LOCK ON DEVICE (instructions may differ a little from Android vs iPhone): Go to your settings > security and privacy > SIM card security (you may have to click "more" to find this option) > toggle to "lock SIM card" > change SIM card PIN by entering the default PIN (it's either 1111 or 1234). DO NOT MAKE MORE THAN 2 ATTEMPTS AT DEFAULT PIN. It will lock you out of your phone after 3 failed attempts. Contact Visible for the default pin if either of those don't work. > Done LINE LOCK ON VISIBLE: Visible's terminology is a "line lock," which prevents anyone from porting out your number and swapping your sim. Unfortunately, this option is not available to everyone right now. A Visible Rep says that it should be rolled out to everyone within a month. Here are the instructions via the Visible App: Navigate to Account > Privacy and Security > Account Security > Manage Number (This may or may not be available right now. If not, keep checking back over the next month.) > Click arrow next to Unlocked > on the Protect Your Number With Line Lock page, toggle the gray Unlocked button. Once Line Lock is enabled, it will turn blue and say Locked. > Click Save Hope this helps! 💚

[@stevencole7331]

I recieved the ticket master letter with access to free credit monitoring. I also recieved the same letter for my daughter who has not lived with me for a decade and my deceased brother who stayed with me a few years back for a few months. I belive a third party data center screwed up which we see as the biggest problem with data breaches. Clark may want to further explore this

[@Crazyferretlady-in5sd]

Anybody heard of velocity banking? And what it is 🤔

[@GrammySue0719]

@Clark?

[@davidpowell3347]

I think that it is safer not to enable cell phone/Internet connected smartphone (which is actually a type of wirelessly Internet connecting micro tablet computer) access to my bank and brokerage accounts -- also best to turn off the "wifi" and connect the laptop by Ethernet wire to the router when logging on? Also with the laptop in "Airplane mode" ? I wonder if it is possible for some imposter to establish cell phone access to my accounts via their cell phones? (Without knowing my userid or passwords)

[@Clark]

Just remember that it's not the banking apps that the criminals are after, per se. They want your text messages and email because that is where the 2-factor authentication codes will come to allow them access into your bank accounts. 💚

[@davidpowell3347]

@@Clark I know that it is very dangerous if your e- mail account password gets into circulation/into the scammers' hands

[@e-care-books9867]

#BonusPhrase - "Is it Friday yet?" Lol. Fridays.... already good, then a #bonus with "Clark Stinks!" on #FriYay

[@Clark]

💚 #bonusphrase

[@tommygamba170]

Get to the info. Stop all the blah blah blah

[@seand99x]

Clark, you should have had the military person who had a 30 day late payment set up auto pay as well this then won’t happen again

[@Clark]

Great tip, Clarkie! 🙌