Travel Scams to Watch Out For

Sometimes you’re not being paranoid: people really are out to ruin your vacation.

Alejandro J. Vivas/Shutterstock

Your vacation is in danger, whether it be from pickpockets on the streets of Paris, or an online vacation deal that’s just too good to pass up.

Nefarious individuals are waiting to steal your money.

They use various and clever techniques. But with vigilance and sometimes a little research, you can avoid them.

Whether you’re in New York or New Delhi this summer, here are some things to look out for.

Book Your Vacation on a Legitimate Website

Many people book vacations online successfully, but a lot can go wrong if you don’t know the website. It’s become common for scammers to create and operate fake vacation websites. The site may look similar or virtually identical to a popular and legitimate travel site. But look carefully, there’s always something a little off, like words misspelled, incorrect grammar, or a logo that’s slightly different.

The trip price will be excellent and can’t be found anywhere else. If you find this, a red flag should immediately go up, and further research should be done.

Always book a vacation through reputable channels. If you aren’t familiar with the site, type the site’s name with the word “scam” after it in your browser, and see what appears. You can also type “review” after the name to see what others thought.

Favorite Online Scamming Destinations

Scammers tend to target specific destinations. According to cybersecurity company McAfee, the top five U.S. online travel scam destinations in 2024 are the following:

• Fort Myers Beach, Florida
• Sandusky, Ohio
• Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania
• Waimea, Hawaii
• Chicago

International destinations were also on the list. Here are McAfee’s top five online international travel scam destinations in 2024:

• Berlin
• Cyprus
• London
• Paris
• Rio de Janeiro

There are other destinations that scammers know Americans frequent, and they create sites specifically targeting you.

Check for Legitimate Travel Agents

Even if you’re skipping an online booking and going with a travel agent, make sure you know who you’re dealing with.

Check the agent’s accreditation and certification to ensure they meet industry standards, or you may end up with fake tickets and no hotel reservations.

Watch Out on the Streets

Regardless of where you travel, it’s wise to assume you'll be cheated if you’re not paying attention. You’re a mark, and the scammer’s goal is to steal your wallet or cash.

Having a mobile payment app on your iPhone, like Apple Pay, is a safer way to pay than exposing your wallet. If you can, consider using Google Pay if you have an Android. This way, you’re never showing anyone where you keep your wallet.

The Helpful Local, Fake Charity Petition, and Found Ring

Seemingly helpful locals will warn you to keep your wallet safe, and then steal it once they see where you keep it.

Or they may steal your wallet and bring it back to you as the superhero. The cash will be gone, so they‘ll helpfully direct you to an ATM where they’ll steal your PIN.

You’re at a popular tourist site, and someone stops and asks you to sign a petition. Sometimes the petitioner pretends to be deaf. They will then ask for a donation. But while they are distracting you, someone is probably picking your pocket. Or you'll give them a donation, and now their accomplice knows where you keep your wallet.

An innocent person, like a child, picks up a ring and asks if you’ve dropped it. They then look at the ring closely and show you the mark that proves it’s gold. The scammer offers to sell it to you for a low price. It’s not gold; if you buy it, you’ve been conned.

Jostled in a Crowd

You’re jostled in a crowd, and someone spills something on you. They feel bad and stop to help you wipe off your shirt.

They’re really patting you down to find your wallet.

If someone spills something on you, keep walking and don’t let anyone touch you.

Crafty Cashiers

Cashiers pretend to talk on the phone when they take your credit card. But in reality, they’re snapping a photo of your card. Be ready to walk and not make a purchase if the situation feels “off.”

Cashiers will also do a slow count when giving you back change. They’ll count back with short pauses that seem odd. Their hope is that you’ll become impatient and just pick up your change, which, unfortunately, has been shorted.

Closed for Lunch

Back to the friendly local, who tells you the attraction you wanted to see is closed.

They will then guide you to a different attraction or shop. You'll probably be forced to pay a lot for entry. Or if it’s a shop, the goods will be cheaply made.

Avoid this by researching the hours for attractions before you go.

Protect Yourself and Family

It’s not just enough to know that scammers are out there.

You need to question when opportunities arise or locals try to help you. And protect your children by making sure they know that scamming is possible and what it is.

Whether you’re on your computer planning your trip or strolling the streets of Paris, if it’s too good to be true, it is.

The Epoch Times copyright © 2025. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.