As summer heats up and many consumers prepare for summer travel, it's important to be aware of some of the biggest travel scams circulating.
Abhishek Karnik, head of McAfee's Threat Research team, shared with ConsumerAffairs everything consumers need to know about travel scams this summer, including the biggest threats to summer travel, warning signs of travel-related scams, and how to stay safe while booking travel this summer.
“Our Safer Summer Travel Report shows an alarming trend: more than one in four Americans have fallen victim to travel fraud,” Karnick said. “This is happening as the accessibility and use of AI increases and cybercriminals increasingly leverage the technology to increase the scale, effectiveness and speed of their fraud.”
“Scammers are opportunistic, and when a topic like summer travel experiences high interest, they act quickly and strategically to lure people in with compelling scam tactics. Now more than ever, a combination of education and technology is needed to help avid travelers avoid falling victim to scams so they can focus on what really matters: enjoying their next vacation.”
Know the warning signs
According to McAfee's Safer Summer Travel Report, travel fraud threats are prevalent both during the booking process and during your vacation.
“As AI technology evolves, online scams are also growing in sophistication and credibility,” Karnick says. “This trend is likely to continue, as the rise in AI-enabled fraud makes it harder than ever to distinguish legitimate offers from fraudulent ones. This means it's important for travelers to stay vigilant and informed. Some warning signs to look out for include:
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Be suspicious of offers that seem urgent. Scammers may try to sell you “too good to be true” deals or discounts via email, SMS, advertisements, phone calls and surveys.
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Don't believe everything you hear or see. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
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If you're looking for shopping or travel deals, stick with trusted vendors – it's always safer to start searching than to get lured in by attractive offers, especially from unknown and untrusted sources.
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Before buying anything from a website or social media page that doesn't seem genuine, do a Google search to find out the company's reputation and read consumer reviews – if there's nothing listed online, it's most likely a scam.
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It's common for scammers to disguise fake links under the names of well-known companies. Be on the lookout for scammers who try to masquerade as legitimate websites by slightly changing the name or URL (e.g. Am0z0n.com vs amazon.com).”
Stay safe during summer vacation
Vacations should be a time to relax, have fun and make memories, not to get scammed or lose money, but there are ways consumers can protect themselves from scammers and still enjoy their trip, Karnick said.
“We urge travelers to think twice before clicking on deals that seem too good to be true and to take strong security precautions,” he said. “Be vigilant against social engineering scams while on vacation and always verify your identity before sharing sensitive information or handing over any personal belongings.”
“Additionally, be careful when scanning QR codes in public places, as altered codes could unknowingly direct you to a scam site. Other simple security best practices include not using public Wi-Fi for financial transactions, using online protection technology, and being aware of unsolicited communications.”
