Stay Safe from Online Travel Scams with These Tips
In today's world, where everything is just a click away, it's becoming easier for people to get scammed online.
And in the travel industry, scams not only cost victims their holidays, but thousands of dollars too.
In 2022, there were over 55,000 reports of travel scams in the US, costing $49 million in losses.
In fact, a survey by computer security software company McAfee found that one in three travelers has been scammed, or knows someone who has.
Travel scams include hackers sending emails and messages that look like they're from hotels the victims recently booked, asking for more money. Other people have been scammed by booking Airbnbs that don't exist, or buying airline tickets that suddenly disappear.
So how do you avoid getting scammed? Here are some tips from security experts to make sure you stay scam free.
If an email or message seems urgent, it might be a scam. Scammers often try to make you act quickly, like threatening to cancel your booking if you don't pay them.
Never click on links or download things from emails asking for money. If you're not sure, call the company yourself. But look up the contact details of the company online — don't use any details included in the email!
Use only well-known travel websites when booking online, and be careful when clicking advertisements. You can also look up reviews of hotels or Airbnbs to see if they're real or not.
Also be careful using the internet when you're traveling. Public Wi-Fi networks, including those at airports and hotels, can expose you to hackers — four in 10 people have had their data compromised this way, according to a Forbes study from early 2023.
Above all, the safest way to stay scam free when traveling is to book everything in person, through a travel agent. But if you decide to book online, remember these tips before you do so!
