Scammers are everywhere, and their tactics are often disguised as too-good-to-be-true deals. You might get a call, text, mailer, or spot an ad online offering “free” or low-cost vacations. These offers can seem tempting, but be cautious—scammers and shady companies are often behind them. Hidden fees may appear, or worse, you could pay and discover the entire offer was a scam. Stay vigilant and protect yourself from these deceptive schemes.
Common Types of Travel Scams
To at least partially protect yourself from surveillance, price discrimination and other risks, before visiting websites, it is worth deleting history. You can also resort to incognito history, which is deleted after closing the browser window. If you clear browsing data, you can protect yourself from stalking. Sometimes you can also get better prices on airline tickets or hotel reservations.
Fake Travel Document Services
Websites pretending to assist with international travel visas or passports may seem helpful but are often just copycats of the U.S. Department of State’s website. They charge excessive fees for services that are either free or cheaper through official channels. Stick to the U.S. Department of State for authentic and legitimate visa or passport assistance.
Social Engineering Scams
Social engineering scams prey on your social instincts to gain your trust and exploit your information or money. With the rise of generative AI-powered tools, travel scams have become even more deceptive through the creation of deepfake videos or voices. Ben Jacob, senior security researcher at SecureWorks, demonstrated how just three minutes of video can produce a convincing voice clone. Stay vigilant and informed to protect yourself from these increasingly sophisticated scams.
Fake advertising
Fake travel ads are another common scam to watch out for. Fraudsters post ads with stolen or AI-generated images on vacation rental sites, offering unrealistically discounted stays in popular destinations. These ads often direct you to fake booking websites designed to steal your personal and financial details or infect your device with malware.
Fraudulent International Driving Permits
Scammers create fake international driving permits (IDPs) or sell them in person, leaving you with a worthless document. Worse still, relying on a fake IDP can cause legal trouble or travel delays abroad. Only trusted organizations like the U.S. Department of State, AAA, and AATA are authorized to issue valid IDPs.
Vacation Home Rental Scams
When booking vacation rentals online, beware of scammers hijacking real listings or creating fake ones. You might show up to find someone else booked for the same property—or worse, the rental doesn’t exist. Always book through verified platforms and double-check the legitimacy of the listing and the host.
Charter Flight Scams
Amazing offers for private charter flights—sometimes bundled with lodging and sightseeing—might seem too good to be true. And sadly, they often are. After paying, you might discover the flight or vacation package doesn’t exist. Before booking, ensure the charter is authorized through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Special Authorities Division.
7 Tips to Protect Yourself from Fake Travel Scams
Travel scams spike during peak shopping and travel seasons, but with the right precautions, you can shield yourself from falling victim. Here are seven practical tips to help you stay safe:
Reverse Image Search
For vacation rental bookings, do a reverse image search of listing photos to ensure they’re not stolen or fake. Scammers often use stock images or duplicates from other sites.
Choose Only Secure Payment Methods
Avoid paying with wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency if a travel package promoter asks you to—it’s a red flag for a scam. Payments made using these methods are nearly impossible to trace or recover if something goes wrong. Protect yourself by sticking to secure payment options that offer fraud protection.
Read Reviews Before Booking
Before committing to a travel company, hotel, or rental, it’s crucial to research thoroughly. Search their name alongside keywords like “scam,” “review,” or “complaint” to uncover potential red flags. Read what others have experienced to avoid falling victim to fraud. Additionally, verify the property’s existence—check their address, and if it’s part of a resort, call the front desk directly to confirm its details and match them against your contract. Taking these steps will help protect you from scams and ensure your travel plans go smoothly. Stay safe and vigilant!
Enable Call and Message Scanning
Many cellular providers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon offer scam filters. Enable their settings to reduce spam calls and texts. Be mindful, as this might involve giving consent to scan your messages.
Learn Social Engineering Tactics
Familiarize yourself with common scam techniques, such as overly familiar or affectionate messages or too-good-to-be-true offers. Scammers often use high-pressure sales tactics to manipulate their targets.
Trust Your Instincts
If a vacation deal seems suspiciously cheap or if anything feels off—whether it’s an odd text message, a strange voice on a call, or awkward syntax in a listing—pause and reevaluate. Your gut instinct can often help you avoid traps.
Staying Safe While Booking Travel Deals
It is difficult or almost impossible to foresee everything. But if you are armed with knowledge about common threats to travelers, your chances of resisting them become maximal. The main thing is that you realize what scammers are pressing on, how they are trying to deceive you and in general you will be more suspicious. Suspicion of everything is the main quality that travelers who do not want to fall for the bait of criminals need to develop.