Beware Vacation Scams Spiking Ahead of Travel Season

Fake rentals, phony booking sites, and 'free' trips with hidden fees are costing travelers millions

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:35am

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A highly stylized, geometric illustration in the Art Deco style, featuring sweeping, airbrushed gradients and towering forced perspectives, conceptually representing the grand scale and romance of travel while avoiding any literal depictions of people, places, or text.As vacation scams spike, travelers must be vigilant to avoid falling victim to fraudulent rental listings, phony booking sites, and hidden-fee 'free' offers.Chicago Today

As travel demand heats up, the Better Business Bureau is warning about a spike in vacation scams that can cost unsuspecting travelers thousands of dollars. Crooks are using a variety of tactics, including fake rental listings, phony booking sites, and even offers for 'free' trips loaded with hidden fees, to defraud consumers.

Why it matters

Travel scams have become increasingly common, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over $140 million in losses last year. These scams can have a major financial impact on victims and erode consumer trust in the travel industry.

The details

The most common vacation scams involve fake rental listings, where scammers create phony ads for properties they don't actually own or control. Phony booking sites that appear legitimate but don't actually secure reservations are another tactic, as are offers for 'free' trips that come with hidden fees and costs. Scammers often create a false sense of urgency to pressure victims into sending money quickly.

  • Travel demand typically increases in the spring and summer months.

The players

Better Business Bureau

A nonprofit organization that sets standards for ethical business behavior and alerts consumers to scams and fraud.

Federal Trade Commission

An independent agency of the United States government that promotes consumer protection and competition.

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What’s next

Consumers should be vigilant when booking travel, slow down to verify the legitimacy of any offers, and use credit cards rather than wire transfers or prepaid cards to protect themselves from financial losses.

The takeaway

Vacation scams are on the rise as travel demand increases, underscoring the importance of consumer awareness and caution when booking trips to avoid falling victim to these costly schemes.