As vacation season heats up, so do the efforts of scammers, who are now armed with artificial intelligence (AI), to turn your travel dreams into financial nightmares. These scams are getting more advanced and harder to detect, making it more important than ever to stay one step ahead.
Here are three of the top AI-powered travel scams and what you can do to protect yourself:
1. Fake Booking Websites That Look Real
AI can now generate highly convincing websites for hotels, flights and tours. They look legitimate, featuring accurate logos, glowing reviews and familiar layouts. You might even spot a luxury villa at a bargain price. But after you book and pay, the site vanishes — along with your money.
How to stay safe:
- Trust your gut. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Double-check URLs. Scammers may use lookalike domains like "Travelllocity" instead of "Travelocity."
- Book directly through official airline, hotel or travel agent websites.
2. AI-Generated Deepfake Destinations
Stunning photos of dreamy resorts with unreal views might be nothing more than AI-generated fiction. These fake listings promote properties that don’t exist, luring you in with visuals that feel like paradise but are pure illusion.
How to spot the fake:
- Use reverse image search tools to see if the photos are AI-created or stolen.
- Compare listings across several trusted platforms for consistency and accuracy.
- Watch for red flags like mismatched addresses or rock-bottom prices.
3. “Urgent” Customer Service Scams
Scammers are also using AI to impersonate customer service agents or even mimic familiar voices. You may get a call or text saying your booking needs immediate payment or verification, pushing you to act fast before "losing your reservation."
Your best defense:
- Never give personal or payment information via unexpected calls or texts.
- Use official contact channels to verify any claims, such as calling the number listed on the company’s website.
Travel Smart, Stay Safe
Don’t let high-tech trickery ruin your next getaway. Take the time to verify before you book, stay alert to red flags and always trust your instincts. For more tips, check out this short video. Did You Know video covering AI Vacation Scams.
Happy and safe travels!
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Check out our Did You Know video covering AI vacation scams on YouTube, LinkedIn and our website. Plus, explore our AI Vacation Scams toolkit, which includes this article, email blast verbiage, images and other resources your organization can use to help raise awareness about these scams.
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