Italian vacation scams hit 4.3 million travellers, €195 million loss

A recent survey by Facile.it shows that 4.3 million Italians were victims of holiday‑related fraud in the past year, incurring a total economic damage of about €195 million. The most common scheme is the “ghost house” – listings for non‑existent or misleading accommodation that lure users with low prices and attractive photos, often stolen from legitimate ads. Over 3.4 million people fell for this type of fraud; 31 % detected the scam before travel, while more than one million discovered it only after arrival. Young adults aged 18‑24 are disproportionately affected (44.6 % of fraud cases), whereas travellers over 65 account for less than 5 % of incidents.

The fraud landscape is being reshaped by artificial‑intelligence tools that produce realistic text, synthetic images and deep‑fake videos, making deceptive listings harder to spot. In response, the Italian Police Postale and Airbnb have launched an awareness campaign offering seven practical tips: verify the website URL, beware of unusually low prices, avoid off‑platform payments, and scrutinise host profiles and reviews. Police cyber‑security director Ivano Gabrielli and Airbnb Italy country manager Matteo Sarzana stress that payments are held by Airbnb until check‑in and that all communication should remain within the platform to minimise risk.

The joint effort aims to protect the millions planning summer vacations by encouraging cautious online behaviour and prompt reporting of suspicious offers.