Memorial Day is behind us, which means the summer travel season has officially arrived. Over the next three months, millions of Americans will take their annual vacations, both domestically and internationally. But as people plan these trips, they seem to encounter more scams than ever. These are the most common scams right now and easy ways to protect yourself and your wallet.
The 7 main travel scams of the moment
According to a report from cybersecurity company McAfee earlier this month, Here are the top 7 types of travel scams travelers are most likely to fall for:
- Fake travel offers or promotions (15%)
- Fraudulent booking confirmations and travel updates (15%)
- Manipulated or misleading accommodation ads (15%)
- Payment requests outside official platforms (11%)
- Fake vacation rental ads (10%)
- Fake airline or hotel websites (9%)
- Impersonation of airline or hotel customer service (9%)
The report, which includes data from a survey of 6,000 people in Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, also found that people reported losing significant sums to travel scams. Specifically, nearly half of respondents (48%) said they had lost more than $500 in a travel-related scam.
And yes, artificial intelligence is partly to blame. As McAfee notes, “AI is making these scams faster to create, more convincing, and easier to scale.”
Artificial intelligence tools make it easier for scammers to code fake apps or websites that imitate real ones. They allow you to generate authentic-sounding emails or text messages that link to nefarious websites designed to steal your sensitive personal information, sell you non-existent travel packages, or extract your payment details for use elsewhere.
And speaking of fake apps, McAfee’s report says the most commonly spoofed travel app is Tripadvisor, which is “cloned about three times more often than other major platforms, including Kayak, Expedia, and Booking.com.”
Other ways scammers find victims
But it’s not just pre-travel scams that should worry summer travelers. The McAfee report notes that scammers also target travelers once they’re on the road, especially if they’re not careful.