Daniel Wolfram
Here are some tips on how to avoid being scammed when you are traveling.
Packing your bags for a long-awaited getaway is supposed to be the start of a relaxing break.
But now modern travelers face a hidden threat before setting foot in an airport.
Fraudsters have evolved, leaving unsuspecting tourists exposed long before departure.
New digital traps
For years, street pickpockets posed the main danger on overseas trips. Today, high-tech tools and artificial intelligence allow fraudsters to build convincing fake websites and exploit personal details.
“What used to look like a fake website now becomes much harder to spot by consumers,” explained Engine executive Florent Silve to the Associated Press (AP).
The scale of the problem is massive. Federal Trade Commission data showed Americans lost $3.5 billion to impostor scams across email, phone, and text last year.
These schemes often catch people off guard because messages seem completely authentic.
Weaponized hotel bookings
Scammers now target hotel computer networks to steal real booking details. Armed with your actual stay dates, they text or email you about a sudden payment glitch.
“In the past, people were like ‘Oh if I receive a scam that is completely out of place, that’s how I know it’s a scam.’ But now, the most dangerous scams don’t look suspicious; they look expected,” said Norton scam expert Iskander Sanchez-Rola.
He cautioned that victims are dealing with their actual records. “The main thing is that this isn’t a fake booking confirmation, it’s a real reservation that is weaponized against you,” Sanchez-Rola noted. To stay safe, ignore links in messages and call the venue directly using numbers listed on its official site.
Sticker and signal threats
Trouble can also strike at local dinner tables. Criminals frequently place fake payment stickers right over authentic QR codes at restaurants.
“You may be sitting at a coffee shop and have a real QR code with a fake one that’s a sticker laid right on top,” warned Mastercard security official Alissa Abdullah, who advises paying with cash or cards if a code looks altered.
Public internet access carries similar hazards. Free airport networks offer convenience, but rogue hotspots easily mimic official connections.
“Sometimes cyber criminals will create a network that looks close to the name of a legit network to dupe you into logging onto their network,” said Brian Cute of the Global Cyber Alliance. He suggests limiting public Wi-Fi use to simple web searches.
