With the economy slowing and the cost of living still very steep across the country, travelers are searching for bargains this summer to make vacation dreams a reality.
The effort to scale back travel costs, however, may be causing globetrotters to fall prey to scammers. And that mistake is costing American travelers hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, according to a new report from software and online protection company McAfee.
The 2025 Safer Summer Travel Report indicates that cybercriminals are capitalizing on the current state of the economy and the prevailing consumer desire to save money. Criminal efforts include everything from creating entirely fake booking sites to using AI-manipulated travel photos to lure travelers to fake travel opportunities and experiences.
“With nearly two-thirds of Americans planning to travel this year, scammers are seizing the moment,” Abhishek Karnik, head of threat research for McAfee, told TravelPulse. “Fake booking sites and phishing emails that mimic real travel confirmations continue to circulate, preying on excitement and urgency.”
Those efforts are apparently paying off for scammers. The McAfee report shows that 1 in 5 Americans have fallen victim to a travel scam during the booking process. Among travelers who say they were scammed, 13 percent lost more than $500 and 5 percent lost over $1,000, turning a dream trip into an expensive mistake.
Travelers are even falling prey to scams despite the fact that 65 percent say they researched common travel scams prior to booking.
Additional data from the new McAfee report shows that:
Men are more likely than women to lose money to travel scams (29 percent vs.18 percent)1 in 10 Americans have clicked on a scam confirmation link Nearly 1 in 10 (8 percent) have entered payment details on a fake site 5 percent of American travelers have encountered manipulated images of a travel destination4 percent have been tricked into booking accommodation or trips that didn’t existYounger travelers fall victim to scams at higher rates than other generations with 21 percent of 18–24-year-olds having clicked on fake confirmation links, and 10 percent of 25–34-year-olds having been misled by AI-altered travel images. (These are the highest rates of any age group.)
“Our research shows that younger travelers are more frequently impacted by online travel scams than their older peers. This may reflect different online behaviors — such as relying more heavily on apps, social media, and third-party sites to plan and book travel,” continued Karnik.
With scammers using increasingly sophisticated, AI-powered tactics, threats can slip through the cracks during fast-paced, mobile-first planning, added Karnik.
The many types of travel scams
The experts at McAfee aren’t the only ones observing an uptick in travel scams this summer. Fraud and scam prevention experts at Chase have also been working to raise public awareness about this growing issue.
According to Chase, there are several different types of travel scams to be aware of. They include:
Fake Vacation Rentals: Scammers create enticing but non-existent rental listingsSocial Media Scams: Fraudsters use social media platforms to promote fake travel dealsTravel Agency Impersonation: Scammers pose as legitimate agencies offering exclusive deals for cruises or all-inclusivesFake Airline Tickets: Counterfeit or unconfirmed tickets sold at discounted ratesVacation Package Scams: Too-good-to-be-true packages that don’t deliverImpersonating or Phishing Scams: Scammers pretend to be from an airline, hotel or other travel-related companies
Tips travelers can use to stay safe
So what’s the best defense against travel scams? Karnik suggests consumers implement a combination of smart online tools and behaviors, along with a healthy dose of skepticism.
“Travelers should take a moment to verify the source before clicking on a deal or entering payment details,” Karnik explains.
It’s also important to stick to using trusted platforms, and double-check URLs for any platforms you use to make sure it’s not a fake or imposter site.
“Scammers try to mimic or impersonate popular travel websites by recreating familiar branding, logos, or company verbiage,” Darius Kingsley, head of consumer banking practices at Chase, told TravelPulse.
If you use a lesser known site, do your research first. “As part of your travel research, do scam checks by looking up unfamiliar retail, travel and services sites online by searching for their names along with terms like ‘scam,’ ‘complaints’ or ‘reviews’” said Kingsley.
While you’re at it, avoid unconventional payment methods to pay for travel costs. This includes payment methods like wire transfers or crypto, which have less protection should something go wrong.
Here are some additional tips to keep handy while booking travel this summer.
Watch Out for Red Flags: Be cautious of too-good-to-be-true travel offers that come via email, phone calls, or social media. “If something seems suspicious, take a moment to verify its legitimacy,” added Kingsley.
Also beware if you’re asked to change the way to pay at the last minute. For example, if you’re renting a vacation place through a rental app or agency, be extra cautious if the owner asks you to pay them separately outside of the app.
Stay Vigilant: When traveling, it is also important to be mindful of using Wi-Fi safely and avoid logging into accounts or using sensitive credentials when using public WIFI.
“Also, stay vigilant when using ATMs on the road—remember to always look around you and log off from your banking session when you are done,” said Kingsley.
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