Scam category
Summer travel scams
Summer travel scams surge as families book vacations and airfares climb. Scammers create fake rental listings with stolen photos, sell nonexistent airline tickets at steep discounts, and impersonate travel agencies to collect deposits for trips that never materialize. The excitement of planning a vacation often overrides the caution people normally exercise.
Category activity
“Airbnb scam”
↑ 118%Watch for
- A vacation rental listing is priced well below comparable properties and the host wants payment outside the booking platform.
- An airline deal requires payment by wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
- The travel agency has no verifiable physical address, reviews, or licensing information.
Common searches
OpenScam News Feed
fake vacation rental scam
Scammers post fake vacation rental listings using photos stolen from legitimate properties, collect full payment or deposits, then leave travelers with no accommodation upon arrival.
Book and pay only through the official platform (Airbnb, Vrbo) and never send money outside the platform.
Travelers
U.S.
airline ticket phishing scam
Phishing emails and fake websites impersonate major airlines offering flash sales or notification of itinerary changes, stealing credit card details and frequent flyer credentials.
Access airline deals and booking changes only through the airline's official app or by typing the airline URL directly.
Travelers
U.S.
fake travel agency scam
Fraudulent travel agencies advertise all-inclusive summer packages at unbeatable prices, collect full payment, and then provide no services, leaving travelers stranded.
Verify travel agencies through the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) directory and check for state seller of travel registration.
Travelers
U.S.
timeshare presentation lure scam
Travelers are lured to high-pressure timeshare sales presentations with promises of free gifts, cheap vacations, or prize money, then subjected to aggressive tactics to sign expensive contracts.
Never sign a timeshare contract on the same day — take the documents home and review them with a lawyer.
Travelers
U.S.
fake cruise deal scam
Scammers advertise free or deeply discounted cruise vacations through robocalls and social media, collecting payment and personal information for cruises that are never booked.
Hang up on unsolicited calls about free cruises — legitimate cruise lines do not cold-call with free offers.
Travelers
U.S.
rental car bait-and-switch scam
Third-party booking sites advertise rental cars at prices far below market, then add hidden fees at pickup or provide a lower-class vehicle while charging for the reserved one.
Book rental cars directly from established companies (Hertz, Enterprise, Avis) or through well-known platforms like Kayak or Google Flights.
Travelers
U.S.
fake TSA PreCheck enrollment scam
Fraudulent websites impersonate the official TSA PreCheck enrollment portal, charging travelers higher fees for applications that are never submitted or stealing their personal information.
Enroll for TSA PreCheck only through the official site at tsa.gov/precheck and the authorized provider at universalenroll.dhs.gov.
Travelers
U.S.
travel insurance scam
Fraudulent companies sell fake travel insurance policies that provide no actual coverage, leaving travelers without protection when they need to file claims for cancellations or emergencies.
Purchase travel insurance only from providers rated by AM Best or listed on your state's insurance department website.
Travelers
U.S.
fake resort booking scam
Scammers create fake resort websites or impersonate real luxury resorts to sell nonexistent vacation packages, leaving travelers without accommodations after paying thousands.
Verify resort bookings by calling the property directly using a phone number found through an independent search, not the one on the booking confirmation.
Travelers
U.S.
currency exchange rip-off scam
Unregulated currency exchange booths and apps target summer tourists with extremely unfavorable exchange rates and hidden commissions, costing travelers 10-30% more than fair rates.
Use your bank's ATM abroad for the best exchange rates, and choose to be charged in the local currency to avoid dynamic currency conversion markups.
International travelers
U.S.
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