You find the perfect beach rental online. Great photos. Amazing price. Available for your exact dates. The “owner” just needs a wire transfer today to hold it.
Pause.
That rental may not exist. And once that money is sent, it is almost impossible to recover.
Spring break and vacation travel periods are peak season for scams. Whether you are booking a personal trip, attending a conference, or working remotely from another location, scammers know people are making fast decisions and handling payments online. Travel-related fraud results in significant financial losses each year, often costing victims hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Here is what to watch for before you book and while you travel.
Fake Vacation Rentals
This is one of the most common travel scams. Criminals copy photos from legitimate listings and repost them on rental sites or social media. The property looks real. The price looks great. The urgency feels believable.
Sometimes the scammer will say something like, “I have other people ready to send payment today.” That pressure is intentional. It is designed to make you act before you verify.
Red flags include:
- Requests for wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other non-reversible payment methods
- Prices that are far below similar properties in the same area
- Pressure to “lock it in” immediately
- Requests to move the conversation off the official booking platform
Use established booking platforms. Stay inside the platform for payment and communication. If someone insists you pay outside the platform, stop and verify before doing anything else.
Fraudulent Booking Sites
Some scammers build fake travel websites that closely resemble well-known brands. You enter your payment information, receive a confirmation email, and assume everything is set. Weeks later, you discover there was never a reservation.
Before entering payment information, look closely at the full website address. Misspellings are common. Navigate directly to the company’s official website instead of clicking links from ads or unsolicited messages.
If the price is dramatically lower than everywhere else, there is usually a reason.
Transportation and On-the-Ground Scams
In tourist areas, it is not unusual for unlicensed drivers to approach travelers offering rides. Always use official rideshare apps and confirm that the driver’s photo, name, and license plate match what appears in the app before getting in.
For rental cars, take photos of the vehicle before you leave the lot. A quick 30-second photo check can prevent a much longer dispute later.
Public Wi-Fi and Digital Risk
Airport, hotel, and conference Wi-Fi networks should be treated as untrusted networks. Attackers on the same network may attempt to intercept traffic, redirect users to malicious pages, or deliver phishing content.
These attacks typically occur without visible warning.
When traveling:
- Use cellular data when possible
- Use a VPN if accessing university systems or sensitive accounts
- Avoid banking or sensitive transactions on public Wi-Fi
- Turn off automatic Wi-Fi connections
University credentials and personal accounts are valuable targets. Protect them the same way you would when working or studying on campus.
We regularly see compromised accounts traced back to phishing emails, fake booking confirmations, or unsecured network use while traveling.
QR Code Scams
Scammers sometimes place fraudulent QR codes on signs, parking meters, or public displays. Scanning the code may lead to a fake payment page or credential login screen. Avoid scanning QR codes from unknown sources and verify the website address before entering information.
Social Media Oversharing
Posting boarding passes, hotel details, or real-time location updates can expose personal information and signal that your residence is unoccupied.
Consider waiting until you return to post photos. Review your privacy settings before you travel. Disable automatic location tagging if you do not need it.
Before You Leave
- Research properties using multiple sources. Look beyond the listing itself.
- Use a credit card for deposits. Avoid wire transfers or payment apps, especially when dealing with unfamiliar individuals or properties.
- Set travel alerts with your bank so unexpected charges are easier to detect quickly.
- Store copies of important documents securely in case your device is lost or stolen.
- Enable screen locks, device encryption, and remote wipe capabilities on phones and laptops before departing.
Bottom Line
No one wants to spend their vacation or work trip on the telephone with their bank trying to reverse fraudulent charges or recover a compromised account.
Scammers succeed when people feel rushed, distracted, or excited. Slow down before sending money. Be cautious with unusual payment requests. Protect your devices and credentials wherever you travel.
If something feels off, stop and verify before you act.
If something feels off, report it to your campus IT help desk as soon as possible. The sooner it’s reported, the easier it is to contain. You can find contact information for your campus help desk here: Universities of Wisconsin (UW System) – IT Help Desks Contact Information.