| The start of summer signals the start of travel season for many. But as you search for your next getaway, criminals are searching for their next opportunity to steal your money or sensitive information through fake listings, bogus deals and other schemes. Before you book, take a moment to learn how to spot and avoid these common travel scams. |
| How It Works•You find a travel booking site offering exclusive vacation deals for far below market value.•Your rental car search lands you on a site offering fantastic deals.•You’re ready to book your stay using a vacation rental app, and the host asks you to pay outside the platform. |
| What You Should Know•Criminals create copycat travel sites that may appear toward the top of your search.•A fake vacation rental may have been stolen from real property listings and reposted with altered details.•If a host asks you to pay for your vacation rental outside the app you found the listing on, consider it a scam attempt. |
| What You Should Do•As in all other domains, a steeply discounted travel offer should be met with skepticism.•Avoid search terms like “cheap rental cars” that can draw more scam results.•Research a new-to-you travel site before booking by searching the company’s name along with the word “scam” or “complaint” or “review” to read about other people’s experiences.•Use a credit card to book travel — it offers stronger protections against fraud than other payment methods. |
reprinted from AARP Fraud Watch Network