Avoid travel scams this summer: Tips to protect your money

While summer vacations are fun and relaxing, it is also a good idea to not let your guard down too much. Travel scams, both while planning the trip and during the trip, are common. According to a survey from cybersecurity company McAfee, more than 1 out of 3 Americans reported they were a victim of a scam when booking travel.

Don't let the thought of travel scams steer you away from planning or enjoying your vacation. Instead, learn the signs of common summer travel scams so that you can stay alert. Here are some of the most common travel scams and tips on how to stay safe this summer.

What you’ll learn

• Lodging and flight scams
• Suspicious emails
• On-location vacation scams
• Public Wi-Fi and charging stations
• ATM safety tips

Lodging and flight scams

When searching for your vacation, stick to reliable and well-known websites. Scammers will create fake booking sites or mimic trusted ones for short-term accommodations, often using real rental photos. These scammers often advertise cheap stays and then ask for a deposit when you try to book with them. Once you make the deposit, the scammers disappear.

If a host asks for payments via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gifts cards, stop the transaction immediately—these are massive red flags. Additionally, be highly suspicious of vacation rental listings with zero reviews.

This doesn't just occur with booking accommodation, but also with flights. If you find a seemingly too-good-to-be-true flight deal online, be wary. Similar to booking a stay, scammers will mimic airline booking sites to trick someone or sell airline tickets purchased with a hacked or stolen credit card.

Suspicious emails

From emails advertising a "once-in-a-lifetime" trip to alarming messages claiming your payment failed, always scrutinize travel-related messages in your inbox. With the integration of AI, scammers can make phishing emails look even more authentic and professional, eliminating common giveaways like spelling errors.

To protect yourself, watch out for these common red flags:

• Misspellings and poor grammar (though becoming less common thanks to AI)
• Artificial sense of urgency
• Suspicious or hidden links
• Requests for sensitive personal information
• Unusual sender email addresses

If you receive an email claiming there is an issue with your booking, do not click any links or provide any information. Instead, contact the hotel, airline, or booking agency directly using a verified phone number to confirm the message's legitimacy.

On-location vacation scams

You don’t want anything to diminish your vacation vibes while you’re away from home, so stay wary of scams while you’re on your trip, too. Common scams targeting travelers include paying for an excursion that wasn’t what was advertised or an event where the provider didn’t show up. The FTC recommends getting a copy of cancellation and refund policies before you pay. If these can’t or won’t be provided, walk away. Be wary of unusually low prices and turn down anyone who tries to rush you into booking.

Public Wi-Fi and charging stations

It is difficult to go without a phone or wi-fi while traveling. While you might think using airport or restaurant Wi-Fi to check your bank account or move money around is okay, these networks are insecure and make you an easy target for hackers to access your information. Instead, wait until you are in a secure place and either use your phone's hotspot or a trusted Virtual Private Network (VPN) for any banking.

Public charging stations are another place where your information can be vulnerable. Hackers can install malware to access your device and steal your data. Instead, purchase a portable charger before traveling in case you need to charge your phone on the go.

ATM safety tips

ATMs are a common way to withdraw money, especially if you are an Alliant member. While traveling, be vigilant when withdrawing money from an ATM. Here are some tips on how to stay protected at ATMs when traveling:

• Never share your PIN with anyone.
• Avoid using obvious PINs, such as your birth year or consecutive numbers.
• Stay aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded or dimly lit areas.
• Always take your receipt. Immediately report any suspicious activity or physical tampering on the machine to the bank

You’ve planned a great trip – don’t let a scam derail it. Staying alert before and during your travels can help you avoid costly mistakes and keep your personal information secure. When in doubt, slow down, double-check information, and verify that sources are what they claim to be. If you suspect you’ve been the victim of a scam, act quickly: Contact your financial institution, secure your online accounts, file a police report, and notify the Federal Trade Commission if traveling domestically and econsumer.gov if traveling abroad. With the right precautions, your money can be safer this summer.​​​​​​