The holiday season is a busy time for travel plans, with families booking reunions, vacations, and celebrations. Unfortunately, it’s also a prime time for scammers to take advantage of distracted travelers.
“Scam attempts spike during the holidays, especially with travel bookings,” says Lisa Hartman, Cybersecurity Specialist at ShieldSecure. “Fraudsters know that people are distracted, rushed, and eager to secure deals, making it the perfect storm for their schemes.”
The Latest Scam: Fake Travel Booking Links
A new warning from the Federal Trade Commission highlights a surge in fraudulent travel offers. Scammers are sending emails and ads promising deeply discounted flights, hotels, and even premium travel perks like TSA PreCheck. But there’s a catch: clicking these links could lead you to convincing fake websites designed to steal your personal and financial information.
“These scams are incredibly sophisticated,” Hartman explains. “The fake sites look just like legitimate booking platforms or government services. Victims often don’t realize anything’s wrong until it’s too late.”
TSA PreCheck Fraud: A Growing Concern
One of the most troubling schemes involves fake TSA PreCheck enrollment emails. These messages mimic official government correspondence, urging recipients to renew their memberships or enroll for the first time. But instead of expediting your travel experience, these links lead to sites that harvest your credit card details and identity.
Here’s the truth: TSA PreCheck enrollment fees are only paid in person at authorized centers, or through the official TSA website for renewals. If you receive an unsolicited email, delete it and navigate directly to TSA.gov to handle your enrollment.
Common Holiday Travel Scams
Hartman points out that phishing schemes like these are only the tip of the iceberg. Other scams to watch for include:
- Fake Vacation Rentals: Listings with incredible deals may redirect you to bogus sites or demand upfront payments through untraceable methods.
- Discount Travel Packages: Offers that sound too good to be true often come with hidden fees—or are entirely fraudulent.
- Imposter Customer Service Lines: A quick online search for airline or hotel customer support could lead you to fake numbers designed to steal your payment information.
How to Stay Safe While Traveling
- Stick to Trusted Sites: Always book through well-known platforms or directly through the airline, hotel, or rental company’s official site.
- Verify Emails and Links: Avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails. Instead, go directly to the organization’s website to verify offers or notifications.
- Use Secure Payment Methods: Pay with credit cards, as they often offer fraud protection. Never send payments via wire transfers or gift cards.
- Enable Alerts: Many banks and credit card companies offer real-time transaction notifications, so you can catch fraudulent activity immediately.
“Remember, scammers prey on urgency and emotion,” Hartman advises. “If a deal seems too good to pass up, take a moment to verify it before acting.”
This holiday season, don’t let cybercriminals turn your dream getaway into a nightmare. Stay vigilant, and make cybersecurity part of your travel plans. Safe travels!
