Top 10 Destinations Where Americans Fall Victim to Travel Scams Most Often
A new Bankrate survey found that over half of Americans plan a summer vacation in 2024. Scammers see millions of potential victims to trick and money to steal. When researching, booking and enjoying your vacation, here’s what to watch out for.
Where Did This Data Come From?
The survey was conducted by market research agency MSI Research between May 1and 3, 2024. A sample of 6,000 adults aged 18 to 65 from The United States, The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, and Australia completed an online questionnaire.
Online Scams are Real
Americans’ concerns about cyber threats have merit; nearly one in three (28%) surveyed have fallen victim to a travel-related scam, and a significant portion of these victims – nearly 1 in 4 (24%) – have lost $1,000 or more to a single scam.
Younger Americans Are Falling For These Scams More
While around 1 in 3 (28%) of Americans surveyed say they’ve fallen victim to a travel scam when booking, 40% of Americans aged 18-29 say the same, along with just 13% of those aged 50-65.
Travel Spending Attracts Scammers
According to the report, Americans are gearing up for tons of travel in 2024, and are willing to splurge more than in previous years. 45% of people plan to spend more on their vacations compared to last year, and they’re willing to make sacrifices to prioritize travel.
Specifically, 43% of Americans will cut back their spending on entertainment like concerts or movies, and 40% will prioritize leisure travel plans over going out to dinner.
The Dark Side of AI
However, this enthusiasm for travel comes with growing caution: at a time when 57% of Americans express worries about scams due to a rise of AI and deepfakes, a third (34%) of Americans say their trust in planning and booking vacations has decreased.
Further, they’ve noted that the increasing prevalence of AI and deep fakes makes it more difficult to recognize and avoid scams. This trend points to the need for vigilance as cyber crooks use more sophisticated tactics to exploit travelers.
Exercise Caution When Researching Hotspots
McAfee Labs compiled an online list of the ‘riskiest’ global travel destinations. These are locations where related online travel searches frequently return unsafe results, leading to potential malware being placed on people’s computers or phones that threaten consumers’ data, privacy, and identity.
Targeting Big Events in Big Cities
Travelers should exercise heightened caution when engaging online regarding visits to these global destinations. It’s worth noting, many of these places are hosting big events this summer such as the European Football Championship in Germany and the Summer Olympics in Paris France, and Taylor Swift Eras Tour concerts across Europe.
Be Especially Careful in These Destinations
- Berlin, Germany
- Cyprus
- London, England
- Paris, France
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Bali, Indonesia
- Azores, Portugal
- Amalfi Coast, Italy
- Bermuda
- Machu Picchu, Peru
Top Travel Booking Scams
The three most common scams travelers encounter while booking a vacation are fraudulent payments after providing credit card or bank details on a fake site (15%), clicking on a malicious confirmation link from an unknown source (10%), and encountering manipulated holiday destination photos (8%).
Top Scams While on Vacation
The three most prevalent scams impacting travelers while on vacation involve experiences with deposits and services not meeting expectations.
Specifically, travelers reported encountering issues with accommodations, where after providing a deposit, they discovered upon arrival that the rental did not exist (13%); providing a deposit for an event or excursion only to find that the provider failed to show up (10%); and pre-paying for excursions that were vastly different from what was marketed (9%).
Listen to Expert Advice
“As Americans gear up for summer travel, it’s important to strike a balance between the excitement of planning and the need for caution,” said Abhishek Karnik, McAfee Head of Threat Intelligence Research. “Cybercriminals are opportunists and they exploit this peak season to tempt travelers with enticing offers.”
“With the rise of AI, these scams have become more sophisticated and frequent. We urge travelers to maintain sound cyber hygiene, think twice before clicking on a deal that seems too good to be true, and utilize advanced AI-powered security solutions. Doing so will help protect consumers’ vacation plans from potential cyber threats and ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.”
Lookout for Fake Emails from Airlines or Hotels
Phishing emails and texts are a common tactic used by cybercriminals to trick travelers into revealing sensitive information or downloading malware onto their devices. Be wary of unsolicited messages claiming to be from airlines, hotels, or financial institutions, especially if they ask for personal information or prompt you to click on suspicious links
Be Careful With Rentals
Do a reverse image search on the photos used in the property listing and see what comes up. Scammers sometimes use photos of actual properties that are not for rent, as well as AI-generated images. Read the property reviews. Listings with no reviews are a red flag.
Also, try to validate the site exists by checking to see whether it has been referenced in legitimate media outlets. Also, only communicate on the rental service’s platform, like VRBO or Airbnb.
Don’t Trust Strangers
One of the most common social engineering threats while traveling is impersonation scams.
Attackers may pose as hotel staff, tour guides, or even fellow travelers to gain access to personal information or valuable belongings. Always verify the identity of individuals before sharing any sensitive information or handing over personal belongings.
Be Careful When Using Public Wifi
Public networks are often unencrypted, meaning that cybercriminals can intercept data transmitted over these networks putting your information at risk of being compromised. One of the most effective ways to safeguard your data while using public Wi-Fi is by using a Virtual Private Network
(VPN) that encrypts your internet connection, creating a secure tunnel between your device and the internet.
Avoid QR Codes When You Can
Carrying over from the pandemic, restaurants still use them instead of menus or in place of a waiter or waitress. The problem is that scammers sometimes tamper with QR codes to direct people to scam sites.
Don’t Annouce You’re Away
Sharing your location online in real-time or sharing details about your travel itinerary can make you a target for thieves and cybercriminals. Avoid oversharing on social media, especially when it
comes to your whereabouts, and consider waiting to post travel updates until you are home.
Explore The World Safely by Avoiding These 8 Common Travel Scams
Keep your money in your pocket by preparing to face these most common scams targeting tourists in destinations around the world.
Travelers Beware: The 8 Most Common Travel Scams Around The World
Here’s The Safest Places to Travel in the World
International travel is booming. One-third of Americans said they are more interested in vacationing outside the U.S. But when news reports show U.S. State Department warnings about travel to certain countries, violence in some international destinations, or individual travel horror stories, it can put your dreams of exploring the world on the back burner.
Well, get your passport back out. Here are the safest countries and cities around the world for you to explore without worry.
