Last Minute Travel Scams

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If you’re looking to squeeze in one more summer trip, be cautious—while great travel deals exist online, so do scammers eager to cash in on your vacation plans.

Criminals set up look-alike travel websites in hopes you will book with them rather than the intended company. And just because the link showed up when you searched “travel deals” doesn’t mean it can automatically be trusted. Scammers often buy paid promotions for their bogus travel sites, so they appear high up in search rankings.

Before hitting ‘confirm’ on that deal, make sure you really know who you are doing business with. Research a new-to-you travel site before booking by searching the company’s name along with the words “scam,” “complaint,” or “review” to read about other people’s experiences. And pay with a credit card, which offers stronger protections than other forms of payment.

Learn how to spot and avoid scams with AARP Fraud Network. Suspect a scam? Call our free Helpline at 877-908-3360 and talk to one of our fraud specialists about what we do next.