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A found nearly one third of Canadians have fallen victim to travel scams, with nearly half of those being Gen-Z travellers.

reported instances of travel scams, often using AI, had increased by 900 per cent in a year and a half, according to .

During peak travel seasons, scammers often create fake vacation rentals and booking sites, making it difficult to spot fraud, warns Jane Arnett of cybersecurity tech company Check Point.��

What are the most common travel scams?

Here’s a list of top vacation travel scams travellers should beware of.

Vacation rental scams

Scammers can lure consumers with promises of low prices and excellent amenities, creating a false sense of urgency by claiming others are interested in the property. This tactic pressures victims to pay upfront before they have time to properly research.

“Free” vacation scams

Be cautious when a travel company advertises a free trip. These offers can often come with hidden costs or restrictions, such as additional fees, taxes, tips or undisclosed charges.

Hotel scams

Scammers may attempt to steal credit card information through fake front desk calls, unsecured “free” Wi-Fi networks or bogus food delivery services.

Third-party booking scams

When booking travel through third-party websites, proceed with caution. Scammers may contact you shortly after you pay, requesting personal details like your name, address or banking information under the guise of verification.

Time-share resale scams

Time-share owners may be targeted by individuals posing as real estate agents, claiming they have buyers ready to purchase. The scammer then demands an upfront fee, but never follows through with the sale.

How do I avoid falling pray to travel scams? 

Arnett recommends travellers be vigilant in all phases of travel, starting with researching booking platforms, verifying listings and using secure payment methods to stay protected.��

Here are more tips to keep in mind: 

If an offer seems too good to pass up, investigate further

Vacation means searching for the best local restaurants and activities, but phishing scams often lure victims with unbelievably good deals.��If an offer seems too good to pass up, take a moment to verify the seller’s authenticity by comparing prices and offers on other reputable websites.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre defines phishing scams as instances when criminals use tactics to trick you into giving your personal information or clicking on links. Tactics used in phishing scams include email and website name spoofing, urgency, offers of refunds or money, seemingly “harmless” requests to click links, download attachments or fill out forms online or instructions to scan a QR�����ǻ��.��

Buy travel deals from trusted sources

Always verify the authenticity of a website before making a purchase. Instead of clicking on links from emails or texts, go directly to the retailer’s website through your browser to ensure security.

Start at the top-level domain and search for the deal you’re looking for from there. If you’re not familiar with the company, do a quick search for reviews of them.

Airbnb says  which can be used to try to steal personal information such as your password or bank account info.

Airbnb has  to help travellers avoid issues.

Avoid sensitive activities on unsecured networks

Public Wi-Fi in airports, cafés or hotels can attract hackers aiming to steal personal information. Avoid sensitive activities on unsecured networks, and use a VPN for security or your mobile data instead.

For more information on fraud that can impact you, visit the .��