Beware These New Travel Scams Targeting Tourists

Some travel scams have been around for decades, but with a greater reliance on technology, there are new scams popping up, often catching unassuming travelers. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission reported U.S. consumers lost more than $274 million to travel-related frauds in 2024 alone, and scammers are only getting bolder.

Watch out for these emerging travel scams:

Fake Airline Customer Service Numbers

It’s hard to notice at first, but fraudsters set up websites or even Google ads with counterfeit airline numbers. When travelers call to cancel or change flights, they’re duped into giving personal information or payment credentials.

Airport and Hotel WiFi Honeypots

Scammers set up fake “Free WiFi” networks in airports, restaurants, cafés and even hotels. When travelers connect to the supposedly safe network, their data, emails, banking login and even boarding passes can be intercepted.

“Too Good to Be True” Vacation Rentals

Look out for fraudulent listings on unverified platforms, or even cloned websites promising luxury villas or rentals at bargain rates. Often, travelers book the property, only to discover the place doesn’t even exist or is already occupied.

It’s also important to remember the scams travelers continue to fall for. Although not new, many still fall victim to frauds like taxi and ride-hailing cons with inflated fares or rigged cards. Another common scam involves fake tour guides and/or street sellers, where unlicensed guides offer “discounted” excursions, or sellers offer counterfeit tickets.

How can you avoid these scams? One word: verify. Verify websites, phone numbers and trusted booking platforms. Avoid public WiFi and use official ride-hailing apps. And always trust your instincts.

These findings were part of a study from Transfeero, an online platform streamlining airport transfer bookings globally.