Each year, tens of millions of Americans look forward to the thrill of summer vacation. While you can easily get caught up in the excitement of your summer getaway, you must stay aware of travel scams more than ever.
As warmer weather comes around and you think about your next trip, make sure you protect yourself against summer travel scams, like fake travel websites or anyone claiming to offer a “free” vacation. Keep reading to get our tips on how to avoid travel scams and prevent fraud.
Travel scams attempt to defraud victims by selling fake or misrepresented vacation packages, hotel bookings or other travel services. Though travel scams can occur at any time during the year, summer travel fraud is more common due to increased travel. According to McAfee’s “Safer Summer Travel Report,” 28% of Americans have fallen victim to a travel scam. And with 87% of Americans reporting they’ll travel at least once this summer, just about everyone can benefit from recognizing common summer travel scams, such as:
With fraudulent travel offers, scammers lure victims with the promise of a “free” or low-price vacation. When the victim calls, the scammer asks for their credit card information to cover a deposit or “service fee,” or fails to mention additional fees associated with the fake vacation deal. Warning signs of free vacation and travel scams include high-pressure sales tactics, winning a contest you didn’t enter and any fees you need to pay to claim your “prize.”
With online travel booking scams, fraudsters pose as legitimate travel websites and may offer special “deals” to attract customers. These sites might spoof popular travel websites and use slight variations in the URL to trick unsuspecting travelers. To verify the legitimacy of a website, look at the web address, make sure the URL is secure and look for a phone number and physical address.
Hotel scams include hotel booking fraud through fake booking websites, fake rental properties, Wi-Fi scams, food delivery scams and more. Scammers can spoof well-known travel websites to trick travelers into buying a fake hotel room, set up fake Wi-Fi networks to access guests’ personal information or even pose as a hotel or delivery service to accept payments or steal credit card information.
In an airline ticket scam, fraudsters steal money from travelers by posing as the airline. They often use fake customer service numbers and phishing emails to notify customers of fake flight cancellations, then attempt to collect a change fee.
Rideshare fraud usually preys on travelers who don’t know the area. Drivers might take passengers to a different destination where the driver will earn a commission from local businesses, take a different route that costs the customer more money or even have other passengers in the car who aren’t part of your group.
Customer service impersonation scams trick travelers into sharing their credit card information through fake tech support schemes, phishing emails and other deceptive techniques. Fraudsters will pretend to offer frustrated travelers help navigating a website or changing their booking, only to take payments or steal victims’ credit card information.
Local tourist scams can range from fake tour guides to demands for charity. In a local travel scam, the fraudster might pretend to be helpful, but they’re really looking to con unsuspecting tourists. Fake tour guides are usually unlicensed guides who lead tourists to high-priced areas and, in some cases, may take them to unsafe neighborhoods.
Other local scams include charity petitions for cash donations or offers of a “free” friendship bracelet. With a friendship bracelet scam, the scammer will either demand payment after giving the traveler a bracelet, or they’ll use it as a distraction while an accomplice pickpockets the victim.
Secure travel planning is all about recognizing the signs of travel scams before it’s too late.
As a rule of thumb, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you’re booking online, any company that doesn’t offer verifiable contact information — including a phone number, email and physical address — is a major red flag. Similarly, any suspicious payment requests or requests for personal information usually indicate a scam in the making.
Before you book your next trip, make sure to check the website URL for any misspellings. Some scammers use web addresses that differ from trusted URLs by a single character. You’ll also want to verify the site’s security certificate, which you can do by looking for https:// in the URL and the padlock icon.
Next, take time to review the company’s ratings and reviews on sites like the Better Business Bureau. If a company has very few or no reviews, or if the reviews seem illegitimate, it could be a sign of a scam.
Finally, contact the company to ask any questions or confirm the details of your trip. A legitimate company will have a customer service representative and won’t push you to share your credit card or personal information.
By proactively planning for future trips, you can help protect travel funds, save time and money and minimize frustration.
Travel insurance can help protect you from unexpected losses related to medical emergencies, flight cancellations, lost or stolen baggage and more. Though travel insurance typically doesn’t cover fraud, it could help you recoup the costs of lost or stolen personal belongings. Travel insurance is typically customizable and usually very affordable. Consider purchasing travel insurance that includes coverage for medical and dental expenses, medical evacuation costs, lost or stolen baggage and cancellations, interruptions or delays of your trip.
Turning to the right tech tools when you travel can help ensure you have a safer, smoother travel experience. If you’re searching for travel apps, use the official App Store or Google Play and check the developer’s name and information before downloading anything. You might find it helpful to download apps with offline maps, translator apps to help you communicate in different languages, virtual private networks (VPNs) to enhance security and apps for medical emergencies and location sharing, such as Medical ID and Life360.
While enjoying your trip, don’t overlook credit card security. Before you leave, notify your card issuer of your travel plans and consider using just one or two cards to limit exposure. Avoid public Wi-Fi when checking accounts, and enable transaction alerts to catch suspicious activity early. These small steps can go a long way in protecting your finances on the go. In addition, Zero Fraud Liability1 has you covered. You won’t be liable for fraudulent purchases if your card is lost or stolen.
Though they aren’t technically scams, resort fees, seat fees, baggage fees, taxes and other hidden booking costs can sometimes feel like you’re being forced to hand over more money. When you compare prices, make sure you check the final price you see just before checkout. Many companies separate the base price from the actual cost, which can total hundreds of dollars in added fees.
If you’re the victim of a travel scam, report the scam to local authorities and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). If the scam may have compromised your personal information, notify your bank or payment provider immediately so they can put a freeze on any affected credit or debit cards.
After you’ve reported the scam, it’s important to focus on preventing additional damage and recovering any losses you may have already suffered. To dispute unauthorized charges on your credit card, contact the card issuer as soon as possible, but no later than 60 days after the charge. Be sure to share as much information as possible, and save any documentation related to the fraudulent charge.
Need more guidance? Seacoast Bank can help.
Even the most cautious travelers aren’t completely immune to fraud. When using Seacoast’s Visa® Debit Card you're protected against fraud with Visa's Zero Liability1, and we continuously monitor your account for suspicious activity. Using Seacoast’s Visa® Debit Card not only protects you from fraud, but also provides additional benefits, like worldwide acceptance and 24/7 cardmember service.
Remember, scam-free vacation planning starts with you, so make sure to follow these travel safety tips to prevent fraud. While the threat of scams can affect any traveler, your best defense against bad actors is always staying vigilant and informed. So the next time you plan to travel, look out for common signs of a scam, and steer clear of anything that seems suspicious or sounds too good to be true.
For additional information and consumer advice on travel scams, check out the resources below.
This card is issued by Seacoast Bank pursuant to a license from Visa USA Inc. Visa is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association. Visa’s Zero Liability Policy covers U.S.-issued cards only. Does not apply to ATM transactions, certain commercial card transactions, PIN transactions not covered by Visa or any other transactions not processed by Visa. You must notify your financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use.
Topics: Protect Your Finances
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