Travel Scams Are Up 900%: 6 Tips To Avoid Them Over the Holidays

Consumers looking to score a deal on travel expenses beware: Travel scams are skyrocketing.

In fact, during an interview with BBC, a Booking.com executive said that their site has experienced between a 500 and 900 percent rise in travel-related scams over the past 18 months thanks to the proliferation of AI.

The online travel booking platform’s internet safety boss, Marnie Wilking, told BBC that since generative AI tools like ChatGPT burst onto the market there’s been a signifiant uptick in ‘phishing’ scams in particular, which involve consumers being tricked into providing their private financial details.

But that’s not the only AI-related scam to be on the lookout for across travel platforms.

With December being one of the busiest travel months of the year, security industry experts are warning that AI scams of all types may be even more widespread.

“Scammers are leveraging advanced AI technology to exploit the growing reliance on online platforms for travel planning and booking,” Jon Clay, vice president of threat intelligence at the global cybersecurity firm Trend Micro, told TravelPulse.

What’s more, “scammers are making their fraudulent schemes more complex and harder to detect,” added Clay.
 
By utilizing AI tools, fraudulent actors are creating everything from fake websites, to emails and even customer service interactions that mimic legitimate travel companies.

When it comes to online travel bookings, for instance, AI is used to “clone or impersonate official websites,” said Clay. Using AI-generated content, including images, reviews and calendars, the website may appear completely legitimate.

“Scammers [also] employ AI-generated domain names that look nearly identical to legitimate ones, tricking users into entering their details on fraudulent platforms,” Clay explained. “Once victims input sensitive information, scammers can misuse it for identity theft or unauthorized transactions.”

And "once the consumer completes the transaction, they discover the tickets or accommodations never existed,” said Clay. 

AI can also power phishing scams tailored to online travel booking. This is a particular risk for consumers who spend a lot of time on social media or online.

“Using machine learning, scammers analyze vast amounts of data from social media and online behavior to craft personalized messages,” explains Clay. “Scammers could send an email claiming to offer discounts on specific destinations the victim recently researched. These messages often include links to counterfeit booking platforms designed to steal payment information.”

If you want to avoid falling victim to these kinds of scams, you're not alone.

Here are some tips to help travelers navigate online booking more knowledgeably,  both during the holidays and all year long.

Tips To Avoid Travel-Related Scams Online

Be skeptical of ‘too-good-to-be-true' deals: If something seems to-good-to-be-true, chances are it probably is. Be on alert for fake ticketing and travel booking websites that offer extreme discounts for flights or accommodations, says Clay, who suggests avoiding such offers.
  
Beware of AI chat bots: AI chat bots are being used to simulate live customer support interactions, says Clay. “These chat bots can convincingly answer questions about fake travel deals, accommodations or bookings, giving travelers the impression they are interacting with a legitimate representative,” Clay explains. “This sense of authenticity lowers the victim's guard, increasing the likelihood of them providing personal or financial information.”

Verify the authenticity of travel websites: Take a moment to double-check website URLs, ensuring that they are the true website for the airline or travel agency in question.

You can do this by looking at the domain name closely to ensure it is actually the site for Delta, United Airlines or whichever major travel provider your hoping to book with. (When doing this, look for misspellings in the brand name or other small errors. Scammers offer use a lower case letter in the brand name, for instance, when the true brand uses uppercase. Or they might add an extra letter, changing the brand name ever so slightly.). In addition, look for a padlock symbol in association with the website in question.


“All web browsers (such as Safari, Firefox, and Google Chrome) show whether a site has what’s called a “security certificate,’” says the security platform Aura. “This certificate — also known as an SSL certificate — verifies that any information you send to the site can’t be intercepted by hackers.”

Avoid off-platform transactions: Redirects to off-platform money wires or bank transfers to steal information and bypass secure payment methods that guarantee buyer protection .

Refrain from clicking on links in unsolicited emails: Unsolicited emails are a popular way to trick consumers into providing private, personal information. These malicious links can also redirect you to an unexpected webpage, according to security provider McAfee. And in addition to providing your personal details on that website, it may also infect your computer with a virus.

Work with a travel advisor: Yet another way to avoid scams is to book travel using a trusted travel advisor, which circumvents fraudulent internet actors altogether.

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