Travel scams usually take one of three forms: a fake hotel or flight booking site that takes your payment and never delivers a room or ticket, a timeshare resale offer that asks for an upfront fee before a sale that never happens, or a call claiming you won a free vacation. In every version, the scammer wants your money or card number before you can check whether the offer is real. Verify the company through an official source, get any cancellation policy in writing, and pay by credit card so you have a way to dispute the charge if something goes wrong.
Warning Signs to Watch First
- You’re told to act immediately or the “deal” disappears.
- A “free” trip requires you to pay fees, taxes or a verification charge first.
- Someone asks you to pay by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency for a booking or a timeshare sale.
- You get an unsolicited call, text or email about a contest you don’t remember entering.
- There’s no written refund or cancellation policy, or the seller won’t put one in writing.
- A timeshare reseller guarantees a buyer, a fast sale or a big return before you pay anything.
Fake Hotel and Booking Site Scams
Scammers build convincing booking pages or send phishing emails with travel offers that look like they’re from an airline or hotel you recognize. The Federal Trade Commission warns that a “free” vacation that requires you to pay fees or taxes first, or a premium package priced far below anywhere else, are both signs of a scam site. If a deal arrives by email or text, don’t click the link — type the real airline or hotel’s website address in yourself and check directly. The FTC also advises against paying by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency for any travel purchase, since those payment methods are hard to trace or reverse.
Before you book anywhere unfamiliar, look up the business name along with the word “scam,” “review” or “complaint,” and ask people you trust for referrals to sites they’ve used before.
Timeshare Resale Fraud
If you’re trying to sell a timeshare, be cautious of resellers who contact you out of the blue claiming they already have a buyer lined up. The FTC has documented cases where resale companies charged owners hundreds or thousands of dollars in upfront “registration” or closing fees for sales that never closed. Be skeptical of any reseller that:
- Claims the market for your timeshare is “hot” or that buyers are already lined up.
- Guarantees a sale within a specific time frame or promises a big return.
- Asks for payment upfront, even with a “money-back guarantee” attached.
- Won’t give you a contract, or gives you one that doesn’t match what you were told on the phone.
A legitimate resale agreement is typically paid on commission from the sale proceeds, not collected from you before a buyer is confirmed.
Vacation Prize and “Free Trip” Calls
A call, text or postcard announcing you’ve won a vacation is one of the most common travel scams. The catch is always the same: you have to pay “processing,” “tax” or “resort” fees before the trip is released — and the trip either doesn’t exist or comes with so many restrictions it’s worthless. If you don’t remember entering the contest, treat the offer as a scam. Genuine prize sponsors don’t require payment to release a prize you’ve already won.
Verification Steps Before You Pay Anything
- Search the company name plus “scam,” “review” or “complaint” before sending any money.
- Type the real company’s website address in yourself instead of clicking a link in an email or text.
- Ask for the cancellation and refund policy in writing before you book.
- Pay by credit card rather than debit card, wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency.
- Never pay an upfront fee to “release” a prize, a refund or a timeshare buyer.
The same verify-before-you-pay approach applies to other major purchases. Our guide to car buying scams and VIN verification and our guide to contractor licensing verification both walk through free government tools you can use to check a seller’s legitimacy before handing over money.
If You Already Paid or Shared Card Information
If you paid by credit card, contact your card issuer right away. Under federal law, you generally have 60 days from the date your statement is issued to dispute a charge in writing. The issuer must acknowledge your dispute and investigate, and it generally cannot collect the disputed amount while that investigation is open. This protection is a major reason to use a credit card instead of a debit card, wire transfer or gift card for travel purchases — those payment methods are much harder to reverse.
If you shared a Social Security number or other personal information along with payment details, visit IdentityTheft.gov for a personal recovery plan.
Report the Scam
- Use USA.gov’s where-to-report-a-scam tool to find the right agency for your situation.
- File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, even if you didn’t lose money — reports help investigators spot patterns.
- Contact your state consumer protection office and, if you lost money, your local police department.
- If you suspect identity theft, start a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov.
Scammers rarely target only travelers. The same impersonation and urgency tactics show up in disaster relief fraud and tax preparer fraud, where fake credentials and manufactured deadlines are used to rush people into paying before they can check the offer.
Evidence Limits and Extra Caution
This article summarizes general guidance from the Federal Trade Commission and USA.gov. It doesn’t cover every state’s timeshare or travel-seller regulations, and it can’t confirm whether any specific company that has contacted you is legitimate — that verification is on you, using the steps above. Older adults and anyone contacted repeatedly by the same caller or company should be especially cautious of pressure to decide quickly, since persistence and urgency are common scam tactics regardless of who’s being targeted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to book through a third-party travel site?
Many are legitimate, but verify the site independently of any link in an email or ad, and confirm your reservation directly with the hotel or airline once it’s made.
Can I get my money back if I already paid a timeshare resale fee?
Contact your credit card issuer to start a dispute if you paid by card, and report the company to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state consumer protection office.
What should I do with a call saying I won a free vacation?
Don’t pay anything to claim it. If you don’t remember entering a contest, treat the call as a scam and report it.
Does paying by debit card offer the same protection as a credit card?
No. Credit card disputes are generally easier to resolve than debit card disputes, and a debit dispute involves money already withdrawn from your bank account rather than an unpaid balance.
Educational Disclaimer
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. Consumer protection laws vary by state, and individual circumstances differ. For guidance specific to your situation, contact your state consumer protection office, your credit card issuer, or a qualified attorney.
