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Booking flights, accommodation, and holiday packages is as simple as completing a few clicks online.
While the internet has made travel convenient, it’s also brought with it a wave of travel-related scams. A survey by McAfee revealed that 1 in 3 people have been scammed when booking or taking trips, with 34% losing $1,000 or more.
AI seems to have leveled things up. Now, criminals can use artificial intelligence (AI) to create sophisticated travel scams that exploit online conveniences. Using advanced AI, it’s difficult for everyday people to identify scams.
What Are the Common AI-Powered Travel Scams?
- Fake Booking Websites
AI has many conveniences to offer, and one of them is that anyone can create a professional-looking website with minimal hassle or know-how. Scammers use AI to create convincing replicas of legitimate hotel, airline, or travel agency websites.
These sites often feature realistic photos and can lure you in with low prices for accommodations or flights, unbelievable discounts, limited-time sales, and other messages of urgency.
Once you enter personal or payment information, scammers disappear with your money and leave you with no place to stay. Some can go even further and use your credit card information for fraudulent activities.
- Fake Customer Services
With deepfake technology, you may be communicating with a scammer and believe it’s a customer service representative. They can replicate the voices of hotel or airline staff and trick you into paying for fake services or providing personal information that can be used to imitate you in future transactions.
A report in the Wall Street Journal shows that hospitality companies like hotels are facing a rise in telephone scams. These scams use AI to extract sensitive information from travelers. It’s no longer safe to blindly trust that you’re speaking to a customer support staff member. You’d need to be vigilant to protect yourself.
- Phishing Emails
AI has made phishing emails more sophisticated, allowing scammers to mimic official communications or generate personalized messages that appear to come from reputable travel companies.
These emails bypass traditional spam filters and feature enticing deals, booking confirmations, or alerts of urgent issues with your itinerary. They often include fake but persuasive-looking links leading to fraudulent sites that steal your data when clicked. You may even find yourself entering your card details into a legitimate-looking payment form, only for scammers to steal your data and use it for future fraudulent purchases.
- Fraudulent Travel Agency Scams
Scammers can also set up fake travel agencies. They use AI to create hundreds of glowing, generic reviews or travel itineraries with fabricated details, often featuring attractive deals that lure people into booking non-existent trips or accommodations.
You only realize you’ve been scammed after arriving at your destination and find the place doesn’t exist or realize that no arrangements have been made for your stay. The Times reports how dozens of people ended up stranded in a muddy field with no money after being duped into booking a luxury “stargazing dome.”
How Does AI Make Scams More Convincing?
AI allows a scammer to analyze vast amounts of data instantly. They can use the findings to customize communications based on your preferences, making scams more personalized and challenging to detect.
AI also makes it easier to generate high-quality content and impersonate human interactions, adding a layer of credibility to their schemes.
Tips for Spotting Travel Scam Red Flags
- Verify the Website Authenticity
Always double-check URLs for discrepancies. A secure website will start with “https://” and have a padlock icon. Avoid sites with unusual domain names or without contact information.
- Confirm Bookings Directly with Providers
To ensure your booking is legitimate, it’s best to contact hotels or airlines directly or make your reservations through their official channels.
- Avoid Unrealistic Deals
If it seems too good to be true, it usually is. Look at prices across multiple platforms and be wary of substantial price cuts.
- Use an eSIM to Stay Safe While Traveling
An eSIM allows you to switch carriers without physical SIM cards, and it can’t be physically stolen and swapped. It lets you stay connected to a private, secure mobile network so you don’t have to rely on risky public Wi-Fi where cybercriminals can intercept your data.
Last Word
AI has enabled advancements that enhance travel experiences, but it also gives scammers tools to craft convincing frauds. Protect yourself by staying informed and vigilant so you can enjoy your travels with peace of mind.
