How to avoid a travel scam this summer
Scammers pose as travel vendors and websites to steal money from people booking summer vacations. They lure victims with fake deals and then disappear with payment.
How it works
You see an ad or email offering a cheap vacation package. You click the link or call a phone number and provide your credit card or bank details to book the trip. The scammer takes your money and the vacation never happens. You cannot reach the vendor again.
Red flags to watch for
- Price is much lower than competitors for the same trip
- Website has typos, poor design, or mismatched logos
- They ask you to pay by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency
- No phone number or physical address listed on the website
- Booking confirmation email looks generic or arrives from a free email account
What to do
Do not click links in unsolicited ads or emails about travel deals. Instead, go directly to the official website of the airline, hotel, or travel company by typing the URL yourself. Use a credit card, not a debit card or wire transfer, so you have dispute protections. Check reviews of the travel vendor on independent websites before booking. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
If this reached you
Source: FTC . Scam Sentinel summarizes official guidance in plain language; it is a decision aid, not a guarantee.