Technological advances have made our lives easier in many ways, but they have also opened up new opportunities for scammers to target unsuspecting travelers. Travel is a wonderful way to relax and recharge, but unfortunately, it has also become a prime target for fraudsters.
According to Brittany Allen, a trust and safety architect at Sift, the business of fraud has become more accessible and travel scams have become one of the most common ways for scammers to defraud consumers and businesses. The easy access to technology and information on the dark web has lowered the barrier to entry for fraud, making it easier for cybercriminals to take advantage of unsuspecting travelers. In fact, Sift’s Fraud Industry Benchmarking Resource found that payment fraud in the online travel and lodging industry has doubled in just one year.
Amy Nofziger, the director of victim support at the AARP Fraud Watch Network, also noted that with the rise of “revenge travel” after the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in the ways criminals are using people’s desire to travel to steal from them. With most of us constantly glued to our phones, scammers have more access to us than ever before, using text messages, emails, and social media to target potential victims.
This is why it is crucial for travelers to be extra vigilant when booking travel arrangements and going on trips. To help you avoid falling prey to these scams, we have asked experts to share the red flags you should watch out for.
The offer seems too good to be true
As the saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. This is especially true when it comes to travel deals. In this age of skyrocketing travel costs, scammers often try to lure unsuspecting travelers with low offers that are well below market price. However, these “exclusive” deals are often too unrealistic to be credible.
The same goes for in-person fraud. Never get into an unlicensed taxi or private vehicle, even if the deal seems too good to pass up. Julian Moro, senior vice president and regional security director at International SOS, advises travelers to only use reputable ride-sharing apps for transportation.
It is also important to be cautious of overly friendly strangers who may be trying to scam you. As travel writer Matthew Kepnes, aka Nomadic Matt, advises, always use common sense and trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is.
The payment method seems suspect
When it comes to making payments for travel arrangements, be wary of any requests for pre-paid gift cards, cryptocurrency, or peer-to-peer apps. These are often red flags for scams. Stick to secure payment methods through official channels. While it may be normal to encounter street vendors who do not accept credit cards, be cautious of any hotel or flight booking service that does not allow credit card payments.
Ally Armeson, executive director of programs at the Cybercrime Support Network, advises using credit cards for all travel bookings as they offer more fraud protection than debit cards. It is also important to regularly review your bank statements to catch any irregular activity if your card information was compromised in a scam. When traveling to unfamiliar places, it is also wise to use credit cards and travelers’ checks instead of carrying large amounts of cash.
Something about the website feels off
Be cautious of suspicious URLs or website addresses that look slightly off or contain unusual characters. These could be signs of a fake website. Always double-check the URL and look for inconsistencies between the URL and site descriptions, grammatical errors, or characters used in place of letters. If you discover a website through an ad on social media or another website, try to go to the vendor’s actual website to confirm its legitimacy.
According to Amy Nofziger, it is important to be careful when doing online searches as scammers can engineer their websites to be at the top of the search results. Additionally, when needing to connect with customer service, go directly to the website and look for the “Contact Us” page. Many scammers will place fake customer service phone numbers online.
Communication takes place through unofficial channels
Never trust unsolicited communication of any kind. Even if the message seems legitimate, do not click on any links or download anything until you are certain it is from a reputable source. Always do your own independent research using official websites and phone numbers. As Ned S. Levi, a columnist and travel scam expert with Travelers United, advises, always
