As the 2026 summer season gets into full swing, travelers should be aware of the influx of vacation scams that could easily ruin their finances and their next trip.
Last month, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent federal agency whose purpose, in part, is to protect Americans from fraudulent and deceptive businesses. Warning travelers about ways they could be ripped off while looking for deals this summer, the agency highlighted cons that fall within the scope of imposter scams. The latter may present themselves in a multitude of ways. That said, they generally involve fraudulent businesses or bad actors pretending to be (or deceptively aligning themselves with) those that are legitimate and trusted in order to get your money. Scammers who pull those types of cons may also be after your banking and/or personal information.
“Travel scams can crop up when you’re searching online for hotels or flights. Scammers sometimes use paid ads and put their number alongside a well-known company’s name, or link to a website that only looks like it belongs to a hotel brand or airline,” said the FTC.
“Scammers have driving vacations covered, too, sending texts about fake ‘unpaid tolls’ and demanding immediate payment,” the agency additionally noted.
How To Stay Safe From Vacation Scams This Summer
Travelers should be informed about common and currently circulating vacation scams, as well as how to keep themselves safe. Things to watch out for and avoid include fake booking sites, accommodations, and tour listings. Additionally, travelers should be vigilant against fraudulent airline and hotel customer service numbers and phishing schemes that attempt to steal their sensitive information.
Ways to protect yourself include common-sense safety measures. Don’t share your personal or banking information on fake websites or with strangers with credentials that you haven’t verified. Always make sure you’re using a legitimate website and, if possible, type in the company’s URL directly to access it rather than finding it via a search engine.
Do not respond to texts, calls, or emails from unknown and unverified senders who may be trying to phish for your information. Also, never send money to companies or individuals that you haven’t cleared as legitimate. Always make sure you have accurate, complete details about what you’re purchasing before you follow through with any transaction. Moreover, per the FTC, be wary of requests to pay via “wire transfer, gift card, payment app, or cryptocurrency,” as it’s “almost impossible” to get your money back if something goes wrong.
Finally, don’t forget to read through reviews from real former customers of a company, travel agent, or tour provider before handing over your hard-earned money.
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