$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
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.
“travel scam”
↑ 439%Key indicators
Usually targetsTravelers
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scam websites advertise deeply discounted rental cars, appearing in search results and travel comparison sites during peak summer travel season.
2
At pickup, the customer discovers mandatory insurance, fuel surcharges, and other fees that double or triple the quoted price — or the reservation does not exist.
3
Customers who prepaid may find the company has no physical presence at the airport and cannot obtain a refund.
What to do first
Book rental cars directly from established companies (Hertz, Enterprise, Avis) or through well-known platforms like Kayak or Google Flights.
Related terms
rental car hidden fee scamfake car rental websiteSummer travel scamsWebsiteSurgingTravelersBusiness travelersFamiliesSmall business ownersTech workers and developersReal estate professionals and homebuyersUnited StatesCanadaMexicorental car hidden fee scamfake car rental website
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Jessica, 35, a travelers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate summer travel scams situation while using Website. Scam websites advertise deeply discounted rental cars, appearing in search results and travel comparison sites during peak summer travel season.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: At pickup, the customer discovers mandatory insurance, fuel surcharges, and other fees that double or triple the quoted price — or the reservation does not exist.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Customers who prepaid may find the company has no physical presence at the airport and cannot obtain a refund.
The outcome
Jessica realized something was wrong when booking site advertises rental prices 40-60% below major rental companies. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Book rental cars directly from established companies (Hertz, Enterprise, Avis) or through well-known platforms like Kayak or Google Flights. Jessica's experience shows why booking site advertises rental prices 40-60% below major rental companies and multiple mandatory fees are added at pickup that were not disclosed during booking are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Booking site advertises rental prices 40-60% below major rental companies
- Multiple mandatory fees are added at pickup that were not disclosed during booking
- Website is not affiliated with any recognized rental company and has few verifiable reviews
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Book rental cars directly from established companies (Hertz, Enterprise, Avis) or through well-known platforms like Kayak or Google Flights.
- ✓Read the full terms and conditions before booking and confirm the total price including all fees.
- ✓Report deceptive rental sites to the BBB and your state attorney general.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The BBB reported that rental car scam complaints increased 45% in 2024, with the average overcharge or loss totaling 275 dollars per incident.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Book rental cars directly from established companies (Hertz, Enterprise, Avis) or through well-known platforms like Kayak or Google Flights.
- ✓Read the full terms and conditions before booking and confirm the total price including all fees.
- ✓Report deceptive rental sites to the BBB and your state attorney general.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The BBB reported that rental car scam complaints increased 45% in 2024, with the average overcharge or loss totaling 275 dollars per incident.
BBB Scam Tracker 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Travelers, Business travelers, Families
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom
Primary channel
Website — Summer travel scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Travelers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The BBB reported that rental car scam complaints increased 45% in 2024, with the average overcharge or loss totaling 275 dollars per incident.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about rental car bait-and-switch scam
How does the rental car bait-and-switch scam work?+
Scam websites advertise deeply discounted rental cars, appearing in search results and travel comparison sites during peak summer travel season. At pickup, the customer discovers mandatory insurance, fuel surcharges, and other fees that double or triple the quoted price — or the reservation does not exist. Customers who prepaid may find the company has no physical presence at the airport and cannot obtain a refund.
What are the warning signs of rental car bait-and-switch scam?+
Booking site advertises rental prices 40-60% below major rental companies Multiple mandatory fees are added at pickup that were not disclosed during booking Website is not affiliated with any recognized rental company and has few verifiable reviews
What should I do if I encounter rental car bait-and-switch scam?+
Book rental cars directly from established companies (Hertz, Enterprise, Avis) or through well-known platforms like Kayak or Google Flights. Read the full terms and conditions before booking and confirm the total price including all fees. Report deceptive rental sites to the BBB and your state attorney general.
Who is most at risk for rental car bait-and-switch scam?+
This scam primarily targets Travelers, Business travelers, Families. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and typically appears on Website.
Is rental car bait-and-switch scam getting worse?+
rental car bait-and-switch scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, CA, MX, UK. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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