Travel scams surge this summer, affecting tourists online and offline

Consumer‑protection agencies warn that the summer travel season is seeing a sharp rise in scams aimed at tourists. Traditional street frauds such as fake offers, bogus tickets and pickpocketing continue to target visitors in crowded destinations, with criminals using high‑pressure sales tactics and distractions to steal wallets and documents.

At the same time, cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting the volume of online bookings. Check Point Research reports a 122 % increase in phishing attacks on the travel sector over the past three years, with more than 47,000 malicious domains registered in a single month to mimic sites like Booking.com, Airbnb and Skyscanner. Victims receive forged emails or chat messages that appear to come from hotels or booking platforms, prompting them to confirm reservations, update payment details or click fraudulent links.

A specific scheme targeting Booking.com users, dubbed the “breach booking” scam, has been highlighted by Italian media. Scammers send messages that include accurate reservation information and then request payment or direct the victim to a counterfeit confirmation page to harvest personal and card data. Authorities stress the importance of using official channels, verifying URLs, and avoiding unsolicited payment requests.

Travelers are advised to remain vigilant, verify communications, and keep personal belongings secure to reduce the risk of both physical and digital fraud.