Whether you’re planning a short summer vacation or something for colder seasons, it’s important to remember that scammers are always on the lookout for victims. Before you pack your bags, familiarize yourself with common scam types and basic security practices.

Why Are Travel Scams on the Rise?

According to the Federal Trade Commission, 55,063 people experienced travel-related scams in 2023, with a median loss of $1,187—and that data only includes the scams that were reported.

Travel scams have always existed in some shape or form, but the internet has made it easier than ever for scammers to reach potential victims. With 80% of vacations booked online, scammers can leverage insecure connections, malicious links, and AI-generated content to target unwary travelers.

6 Common Travel Scams

You can avoid travel scams by learning to recognize suspicious tactics.

1. Phishing

Phishing scams employ email or messaging applications to access your personal data. The scammer will often pose as a hotel employee, travel agent, or rental host, and they may use an email or graphics that seem to connect them to a reputable company. 

Phishers ask for your credit card information, bank account numbers, or passwords, or they can direct you to a link that downloads malware onto your device. Phishers typically use pressure tactics, like saying you only have twenty-four hours to complete your reservation, to discourage you from thinking critically.

2. Fake Booking Websites

While there are plenty of legitimate websites that can help you snag travel deals, not all of them can be trusted. Cybercriminals can create a booking platform, populate it with attractive discounts, and place ads on search engines. When a user books their reservation, they will be asked to provide a payment method, and they may even be prompted to make a deposit.

3. AI-generated Content

Generative AI produces writing, photos, and videos in seconds. Since these models are trained on existing content, they can pull directly from legitimate sources, lending extra credibility to a scam. Cybercriminals will use AI to create convincing rental listings, reviews, and phishing emails.

4. Prize Vacations

Vacations are often offered as prizes, so a notification that you’ve “won” a vacation may seem initially plausible. However, if you didn’t enter any giveaways, the prize vacation is too good to be true. While a fake prize vacation may seem free initially, as the date nears, the scammer will often ask for financial information or money for “prize fees.” 

5. Fake Experiences 

Many hotels offer add-ons to enhance your vacation, like hikes, wine tastings, and guided tours. However, scammers may use an attractive experience to cheat you out of money. In the best-case scenario, the excursion is so unlike its marketing to make it a complete rip-off; in the worst, it never happens. Fake experience scammers can contact travelers online but reach out in person, waiting near popular tourist attractions to attract victims.

6. Public Wi-Fi

While many travel scams target vacationers during the booking phase, public Wi-Fi poses a risk throughout your entire trip. When they access Wi-Fi on the go, travelers without virtual private networks (VPNs) are vulnerable to insecure networks. Hackers can use public Wi-Fi from legitimate businesses, like airports and restaurants, to steal passwords and other sensitive data.

How to Avoid Travel Scams

• Be wary of offers that seem “too good to be true” or employ pressure tactics. Scammers often try to attract victims with amazing discounts, and they say that you will lose the deal if you don’t book quickly—discouraging you from doing your research and uncovering the deception.
• Don’t click any suspicious links. If an email or text seems strange, verify the sender’s information before you click. Contact organizations directly to see if the sender is actually affiliated with them. Make sure to undergo anti-phishing best practices to ensure maximum security.
• Enable two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication is a security practice that requires two pieces of information, such as a password and a code sent via text, to log into an account. If a scammer steals your passwords, two-factor authentication will prevent them from accessing your data.
• Use a VPN. VPNs encrypt your data and hide your IP address, blocking the hackers lurking on public Wi-Fi and insecure websites. Use a trusted service like NordVPN on your phone, tablet, and other devices.
• Keep everything on the platform. If you use a rental service like Airbnb or VRBO, ensure all communication and payment stays on the app. That way, you are still protected by the platform’s security features.
• Use a credit card for vacation bookings. Credit cards give you time to dispute fraudulent transactions, and they keep scammers away from your bank accounts. Watch out for services that pressure you to use a specific form of payment, like cryptocurrency or wire transfers.
• Check for AI-generated content and reused images. Use reverse-image search and AI detection tools to see if the content on a listing has been pulled from elsewhere.
• Read reviews. Pay attention to both the positive and negative reviews about accommodations and experiences. If a listing doesn’t have any reviews, be cautious.

By staying alert and following simple guidelines, like using a VPN and dodging phishing emails, you can have a fun, safe, and scam-free vacation!

Published by: Martin De Juan