Travel can heighten your risk of fraud and identity theft. When booking a trip, be wary of deals that seem too good to be true, and don’t send money through a wire transfer. While traveling, avoid using public Wi-Fi and shared computers—and wait until you get home to post about your trip on social media.
As more people hit the road, scammers are getting more creative about how they target travelers. Car rental scams, bogus airfare bookings, phony travel sites, and fake “agents” are still common—but newer tricks (like fake customer support numbers and QR-code scams) are increasingly part of the mix.
If you’re going somewhere, you can take steps to up your defenses. Read on to find out about today’s common travel scams and how to avoid them, and learn how we support our members anytime fraud occurs, even if you’re on vacation.
Common travel scams
Some travel scams are designed to capture your payment information. Other scams use travel offers as an excuse to capture your personal details.
And once scammers have your personal information—like credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, or full names—identity theft and fraud may follow.
Wondering what it might look like to get hit by a travel scam? Here are some examples to watch out for:
Unexpected calls from travel companies: If you get an unexpected call from a travel firm, don’t give away sensitive details over the phone, even if you have a relationship with the company. It could be a scammer on the other end. Hang up, look up the company’s official number, and call back before conducting business.
Robocalls or texts offering travel deals or “free” vacations: You may receive robocalls offering discounted—or even free—vacation deals. While it may be tempting to take the bait, know that legitimate businesses shouldn't contact you in this way.
Phony travel sites and lookalike booking pages: Some websites mimic real airlines, hotels, and travel portals. They may “confirm” a booking that doesn’t exist—or collect your payment info and personal details.
Fake customer support numbers: Scammers often post fake phone numbers online for airlines, hotels, and booking sites. If you call, they may ask for your confirmation number, payment information, or even remote access to your device. Always use the official website or app to find contact info.
Timeshares or vacation clubs with hidden fees: Before signing up for a timeshare or vacation club, understand exactly what you’re getting and what it costs
Fake travel documents: You might see websites that promise to help you obtain an international travel visa, passport, or other documents in exchange for a fee. When it comes to important travel documents, trust the U.S. Department of State and steer clear of fake sites.
QR code scams (“quishing”): QR codes posted in airports, parking areas, and tourist spots may lead to lookalike payment pages or phishing forms designed to capture your card details or logins.
Loyalty account theft: Scammers may target airline miles or hotel points accounts (often using reused passwords). If they get in, they can drain rewards or book travel in your name.
How to protect your vacation and identity
The truth is that even the best habits won’t completely safeguard you from fraud—but there are some things you can do while booking a trip, when you’re en route, and once you’re back home that can help you avoid and prevent identity theft.
Before you go
While booking a trip, it’s helpful to adopt a healthy skepticism. Sometimes, a hot deal is a bad sign.
Before you take off, consider our tips:
Be wary of any offer promising rock-bottom prices for luxury accommodations. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Compare the offer to the market. If you’re not sure about a travel offer, try checking the market to see if the offer is in line with other similar inventory. If it’s not, consider moving on, or at least dig a little deeper to find out why.
Avoid any requests to send money through a wire transfer or peer-to-peer payment services. Wiring money—or sending it via platforms like Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App—is like giving someone cash. Once the money is gone, it’s very difficult to get back, which is why wire transfers are a preferred payment method for scammers. The same goes for gift cards and cryptocurrency.
Book travel with a credit card, rather than a debit card, which usually offers more consumer protections and is a safer bet for payments.
Stick with familiar brands or platforms. Whether you’re booking directly with a hotel or airline or using a third-party broker, look for companies that have familiar brand names and plenty of positive online reviews. When in doubt, consider using the Better Business Bureau’s database to check for any red flags before making a travel-related purchase.
Be on the lookout for phishing campaigns. These phony emails and landing pages can appear to come from well-known travel companies, but they’re actually fakes designed to capture your money or credentials. Before sharing financial or personal information online, make sure the site is secure and begins with “https” (the “s” stands for secure and means collected information will be encrypted).
Before making a commitment, always consider doing some internet research—such as checking the address on Google maps—to confirm that all the details add up.
While you’re away
Once you’re en route, you’re at a heightened risk of identity theft.
Be cautious with public Wi-Fi. Anytime you use public Wi-Fi or shared devices, there’s a chance criminals can access your information. If you can, use a secure connection (like your cellular network) for sensitive activity—or use a VPN. Save high-risk actions (like logging into financial accounts) for when you’re on a trusted network.
Skip public computers when possible. Hotel business centers and shared computers can be convenient, but they may be less secure. Avoid logging into financial or sensitive accounts on public devices.
Limit real-time social media sharing. Posting your location and plans in real time can make you a target for targeted scams—and it can also signal that you’re away from home. Consider posting highlights after you return.
Avoid risky charging setups. If you can, use your own charger and cable with a wall outlet. Public USB charging ports can be tampered with, and it’s worth taking simple precautions.
Keep devices locked down. Use strong passcodes, enable biometric security when available, and keep your phone and apps updated. If your Allstate Identity Protection plan includes device security features, be sure to enable them while you’re away.
After a trip
Even after you’re home, it’s worth staying alert—because some travel-related fraud shows up days or weeks later.
Review your accounts and statements. Look for unfamiliar charges, new accounts, or alerts you don’t recognize.
Use alerts to spot suspicious activity quickly. If you have Allstate Identity Protection, our near real-time alerts help you spot threats to your identity so you can take quick action to minimize your risk. A few taps are all it takes to let us know if an action made in your name—like, say, opening a new line of credit—isn’t legit.
Act fast if you suspect fraud. If you spot fraud after a trip—or anytime, for that matter—call our U.S.-based specialists. We’ll work with third parties, like law enforcement, credit bureaus, and financial institutions, to restore your credit, identity, and financial health.
With us working on your behalf, you’re free to relax and enjoy more of your vacation and your life without worrying about your identity.