Many unexpected events can derail a relaxing vacation, but one of the most violating experiences is falling victim to a scam.
“Scams can come in all forms, especially as the use of technology increases,” Julian Moro, the senior vice president and regional security director at the company International SOS, told HuffPost.
In June, Booking.com’s safety team said that there had been “anywhere from a 500 to a 900% increase” in travel scams over the prior 18 months, and pointed to the rise of artificial intelligence as a primary driver.
“I believe there has been an uptick in scams since the COVID pandemic ended. And it’s mostly due to the sophistication of email and website travel scams, where the emails and websites for many are harder to determine if they’re genuine or not,” said Ned Levi, a columnist and travel scam expert with the nonprofit Travelers United.
To help travelers avoid falling into these traps, HuffPost asked experts to share their top tips for eluding scammers during vacations.
Look up common scams in your destination.
“There are many typical scams that are still out there ― long indirect routes in taxis, ‘your attraction or lunch venue is closed,’ ‘your hotel is overbooked’ ― but the ubiquitousness of phones, roaming data and easy text translation have put the power back in the hands of the traveler to debunk the scam before being ensnared,” Moro said.
In addition to making use of the internet when something seems fishy, he recommended researching common scams in your travel destination ahead of your trip so that you can be on the lookout.
“If you are carrying a travel guidebook, it will list the most common scams in that specific country,” Moro noted. “Or if you have access to an International SOS program through your employer, you can contact the relevant security team, who will be able to advise you of all the latest and specific scams relevant to the destination.”
Make reservations with reputable vendors.
“To minimize the risk of falling victim to scams, I recommend using reputable websites and vendors for booking and other travel-related services,” Moro said.
From your flight and lodging to your guided tours and attraction tickets, take extra time to check that the travel providers you’ve chosen are legit.
“Read reviews, always opt for reputable accommodations and ensure that all of your safety needs are offered at your accommodations,” Moro said.
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