TAMPA — Authorities are monitoring an increase in travel scams.
“The reality is that roughly one in four Americans has been a victim of travel fraud,” said Abhishek Karnik, head of threat research and intelligence at McAfee.
According to McAfee's recent summer travel report, about 25% of travelers lost at least $1,000.
With more American tourists expected this summer, experts say there will also be more scammers.
One of the most common scams you'll see this summer occurs during the booking process.
“So you'll start seeing these amazing discounts sent to you via text notifications and emails,” Karnick said.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Be cautious about clicking on unsolicited links sent to you via text or email.
Also, beware of scammers posing as travel agents or booking agents.
Another way scammers can trick you happens while you're traveling, and you might not even realize it until you've arrived at your destination.
“While traveling, you may realize that the reservation you made isn't actually what you were shown, or you may arrive at your destination only to discover that the reservation was fake,” Karnik says.
Problems can also arise with accommodation: the photos don't match what you booked, or you end up paying a deposit for a fake tour.
Also pay attention to the payment method.
“If people are asking for cryptocurrency or a non-standard form of payment like a credit card, I would recommend using a credit card, but if you see people asking for cryptocurrency and then asking for a gift card, that's a pretty big hint. That's a big red flag,” Karnick said.
Authorities have also warned that there has been a significant increase in scams using QR codes, urging people to think twice before scanning them.
“It's like when you go to an airport and someone tries to overwrite your QR code with a fake QR code and take you to another website,” Karnik said.
Furthermore, the use of artificial intelligence is making it even harder to tell what is real and what is fake.
“When you engage with someone who is sending you automated emails or text messages that are designed to look very real and believable, you are more likely to fall victim to them,” Karnick said.
Overall, experts stress that everyone should remain vigilant and not share information with anyone unless you can verify its legitimacy.
