Why more ‘desperate’ Aussies are falling for travel scams
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The rising cost of holidays and pressure to book the best deals quickly is seeing more Aussies fooled by scams.
Experts are warning fraudsters are taking advantage of desperate travellers trying to get the lowest prices.
Experts are warning fraudsters are taking advantage of desperate travellers trying to get the lowest prices. iStock
“The cost-of-living crisis, together with the fuel crisis, is changing how people make decisions,” said Tyler McGee, Head of APJ at McAfee.
“When prices are high and availability feels tight, people will likely move faster.”
In data shared exclusively with nine.com.au, McAfee Labs research found 92 per cent of travellers it asked felt pressure to book quickly, creating ideal opportunities for hoaxers to strike.
Another 39 per cent said they’d seen a travel-related scam, and 43 per cent of those lost money.
And 57 per cent of those who lost cast were out of pocket over $250.
Plus 39 per cent admitted they ignore warning signs to avoid missing out on deals.
Meanwhile, swindlers are also fooling Aussies by impersonating common travel websites.
Tripadvisor was the most impersonated travel page, the experts say.
Tripadvisor was the most impersonated travel page, the experts say. iStock
And con artists are very clever, with AI making it easier to find victims.
“Scammers take advantage of that by impersonating the travel brands and messages consumers already trust,” McGee said.
“Scammers can move quickly and response to what they see on social media.
“A post about a missed flight might just result in a targeted email about a replacement flight.”
“Scammers rely on pressure tactics to push quick decisions, so Aussies should be cautious of short time limits and urgent texts or emails claiming sudden cancellations or requests for additional fees.
“Unsolicited links or QR codes are another red flag for scams.
“Aussies should navigate directly to their trusted airline, hotel, or booking platform to confirm details.
“When it comes to bookings, listings with unusually low prices, overly polished or AI-generated photos, or requests to wire money outside of official platform payment systems are good indicators of a scam.”
There are things you can do to try and stop cyber criminals ripping you off:
- Only book through official sites – and verify it’s the correct site.
- Be cautious of deals that seem urgent or unusually cheap.
- Use a VPN when on public WiFi.
- Install scam detectors on your computer can also help.
Sadly, there are also plenty of scams to watch out for when you actually make it away on holiday.
One of the main ones to be aware of, according to travel expert Rick Steves, is the “slow cash counting” method.
Restaurant or shop staff will clock that you’re in a rush.
They’ll start counting out your change slowly, or with lengthy pauses, in the hope that you’ll grab the cash and leave before they finish.
The gems in Thailand scam is one of the best-known.
Basically, tourists are approached with an amazing deal on gems or jewellery that seems too good to be true. Because it is.
Scams with bracelets can happen in Paris. iStock
Another is bracelets in Paris.
They generally will grab a confused tourist’s arm in a busy spot, and start attaching a string bracelet.
But then they start demanding money for it.
A similar ploy happens with roses in Italy.
Being short-changed when exchanging money can also be a problem, especially in holiday places such as Bali.
