Vacation Scam Alert: Work With Travel Professionals, Not Professional Scammers!

Scammers are utilizing AI and other tactics in their vacation scam campaigns.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and other consumer advocacy groups are warning travelers to be aware of a vacation scam this summer. They advise us all to include wisdom, common sense, and skepticism when creating our packing lists for vacations and weekend getaways.

“Just planning a vacation can be an exciting time, because there’s so much looking forward to time off and exciting adventures in a new city, state, or country,” said a BBB representative. “That excitement, and not wanting to miss out on a deal, can lure consumers into paying for something that doesn’t exist.”

In early Spring and as summer began, the BBB posted a list of tips for vacation planners, all focusing on staying alert for scams and avoiding deceptive schemes. You can obtain their advice by searching online for vacation scams and the Better Business Bureau. Some of that advice is included in our exclusive article on that topic.

Take time to plan and avoid a vacation scam.

One of the best tips is this: Take your time booking your vacation and plan all the details carefully.

Never let the excitement or urgency of a fantastic offer—that must be booked now (the ad says)—fool you into giving your credit card details to a fraudster hiding behind a slick website.

Every year, scammers devise new schemes to steal your vacation dollars and your enjoyment. Here are some new vacation scams to watch out for:

Fake vacation properties for rent.

Using pictures of different properties or using Artificial Intelligence to create a fake, fraudsters advertise vacation properties for rent that don’t exist in popular destinations. Why does that work so well? If a person is worried about missing out on a rental, they may take the scammer’s bait, which appears to be the perfect rental available in precisely the location they want to stay.

Travel professionals advise that you should always allow sufficient time for researching potential property, which could help you avoid a scam. With enough time, you can ensure whether 1) the property even exists and 2) it is actually for rent.

Best advice: Try to book a rental with resources that have a good reputation and track record of success. Also, always use a credit card to book your rental: never use a wire transfer, Venmo, or Zelle.

Random “phishing” emails.

During the summer vacation season, savvy scammers, using stolen email addresses, send emails to consumers touting excellent vacation opportunities at great prices. They may even use logos of well-known hotels to make the deal look more authentic, believable, and compelling.

For many people considering a trip, this kind of email may be very well-timed, both for themselves and for the scammer. And because the opportunity comes via email, which seems more personal or trustworthy, they may let their guard down. If they’re not careful, they may click on a link in the email and begin planning their trip with a fraudster, not a hotel or resort.

Consumers need to look carefully at any email that comes “unsolicited,” even if it seems to come from a trusted source. 

Best advice: Take a few minutes to learn how to identify a fake email, a fake email address, or a fake website. We have easy-to-read and helpful articles on those topics in the Learning Center at WhatIsMyIPAddress.com.

Deceptive social media posts.

Scammers often advertise vacation rentals or packages on social media platforms because they know millions of people spend time online daily. Timing is everything, and if you see an ad for a vacation spot you’ve dreamed of going to, and the price seems excellent, you could be tempted to click on the link.

“Remember, scammers can create a website that appears 100% legitimate and include phone numbers that you can call for information.”

They can offer what appears to be full-service, just like a legitimate travel booking agency. Of course, they can also take your credit card information online or over the phone, just like a real travel agency.

But what the fake agency won’t provide are the actual accommodations, plane tickets, travel insurance, and other items you think you paid for. They’ll just take your money.

Best advice: Never pay for anything related to your vacation through a link that comes through a text, email, or social media site. Any legitimate company will only allow you to pay using a legitimate payment method through their website and normal booking channels.

Here’s a six-point cheat sheet for avoiding a vacation scam.

There are hundreds of different scams operating at any given time, and vacation scams are particularly prevalent during summer, spring break, and the holidays. While it’s impossible to learn the red flags of all the scams, you can develop some habits to help you avoid a vacation scam. Here’s a cheat sheet to help guide your decision-making this summer and year-round.

1. Be skeptical. It’s 100% okay not to believe everything you read. In fact, you’ll avoid most scams that way.
2. Use common sense. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is—and is probably a scam.
3. Play it safe. Whenever possible, go through trusted and well-known sources. The more risks you take, the greater the likelihood of falling victim to a vacation scam.
4. Use safe payment methods. Use a credit card or PayPal to book your travel, and pay only through a reputable service’s website or app.
5. Do your research. It actually takes only a few minutes to research a website or company to find out if it is legitimate. The Better Business Bureau offers resources for consumers.
6. Don’t rush. Try to plan ahead and avoid last-minute booking whenever possible. Avoid making last-minute purchasing decisions without ensuring that the provider is legitimate. 

Learn more about avoiding scams.

To learn more about avoiding scams and protecting your finances, visit the Learning Center at WhatIsMyIPAddress.com. You’ll find many informative and easy-to-read articles to help you secure what’s important to you.