Popular travel scams and safety warnings you need to know before taking vacation
What to know about unsafe vacation destinations, phony travel agents and more
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Travelers beware: From vacation scams to insurance to personal safety, a few key considerations can make or break a big trip, according to industry experts.
Here are four things to keep in mind as you plan your next vacation.
Not all travel agents and vacation packages are legit
If a vacation package or a time-share deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A significant number of people become victims of vacation package scams each year — with more than 55,000 travel scams resulting in losses of over $122 million in 2023, according to Federal Trade Commission data.
A significant number of people excited about their next vacation have been scammed by fake websites or actors pretending to be travel agents. (iStock)
While fake websites and AI can create anonymous internet scams, some are executed by bad actors posing as professionals ready to take your money in exchange for the perfect trip.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"One thing that we're seeing a lot of in our industry is scamming from people who are pretending to be travel agents," Erika Richter, vice president of communications for the American Society of Travel Advisors, headquartered in Virginia, told Fox News Digital.
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Richter said travel agent jobs project 3% growth every year from now until 2032, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}There has been a recent increase in travel advisors as the industry will continue to grow each year. (iStock)
"So we've seen a lot of people come into the industry, but the barrier to entry is really low. You need more hours and licenses to cut hair than you do to book travel for someone."
In December, an Atlanta-based travel agent was arrested for making alleged sham travel arrangements for George Mason University’s men’s basketball team after receiving over $100,000, according to the United States' Attorney’s Office.
"This travel advisor looked very legit but ended up scamming the whole team and their families and is facing felony charges…I’ve been with the organization for 10 years, and I’m seeing more and more of these just unscrupulous actors pretending and posing to be travel advisors and ripping people off," Richter said.
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Richter recommends doing your research to ensure you’re working with a true professional.
To protect yourself from a possible hack or scam, the best thing you can do is find a verified travel advisor. (iStock)
"Make sure you’re working with a verified travel advisor," she said, adding that travelers can try verivacation.com, which shows certifications for travel advisors.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"People who go through our program are vetted and have proven sales. They have to prove to us a track record of sales, and they have to take our courses and pass our ethics course. They have to do continuing education every two years in order to maintain their status."
Safe travel destinations may not be so safe today
Terrorism, political instability, civil unrest and even environmental factors are constantly altering the landscape for travelers.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In many countries currently on the State Department’s "Do Not Travel" list, the U.S. government has limited ability to assist citizens who have been wrongfully detailed or who are in trouble.
It is important to look into the safety status of your desired location and make sure it is safe for travelers. (iStock)
"The U.S. Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas," a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
"We take seriously our commitment to provide U.S. citizens with clear, timely and reliable information about every country in the world so they can make informed travel decisions."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Every country has a Travel Advisory, issued by the State Department, ranging from Levels 1-4.
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"The level assigned to a country in the travel advisory is based on established risk indicators such as crime, civil unrest and other potential risks," the spokesperson said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We routinely update our advisories to reflect the most current conditions on the ground."
Familiarize yourself with the laws and customs of your destination so you are not completely lost upon arriving at your travel destination. (iStock)
Familiarizing yourself with the laws and customs of your destination should be a top priority, according to the State Department.
Travelers can get all the facts on a particular country by visiting travel.state.gov.
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Richter also advises considering your risk tolerance before booking a trip, including who you are traveling with.
Consider your risk tolerance before booking that flight or overseas tour. (iStock)
"Are you traveling with your family? Are you taking children? Are you doing a solo female trip? There are so many different considerations to take into account when it comes to safety," she said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Take into consideration that when reading a country’s travel advisory, sometimes it is certain areas that are deemed unsafe, Richter said.
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"When you're looking at all of the State Department data, are you looking at it holistically or by region?" she said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}You should register with your embassy prior to traveling abroad as an additional layer of protection in case of an emergency. (iStock)
Citizens traveling overseas can enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP.state.gov) to get alerts and other information from the U.S. embassy while abroad and also to enable the U.S. embassy to reach you in an emergency.
Richter always recommends people register with the embassy when they are traveling abroad as one more layer of protection in case a situation arises.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Travel insurance could save you money
Check the status of your health insurance and see if it covers any possible accidents or illnesses when traveling. (iStock)
Whether you’re mountain climbing in the Alps or kayaking in Thailand, would your medical insurance plan cover an accident or illness?
Finding out the answer before you travel should be a top priority.
"Most health plans would not," Thomas Stefaniak, executive director of the United States Travel Insurance Association, located in Maryland, told Fox News Digital.
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"If you got seriously ill or needed an emergency procedure or a surgery overseas, most U.S. health plans do not cover those internationally," Stefaniak said.
Another important step when getting ready for a vacation is to look at travel insurance options. (iStock)
Checking the travel insurance box on the front end is a way to cover costly expenses that arise unexpectedly — medical and other — that might otherwise be unaffordable or unattainable in a pinch.
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Trip cancellations, air travel delays resulting in missed connections, lost bags and medical expenses like sickness, accident or even death are all items that can be covered in a travel insurance policy, Stefaniak said.
Protect yourself from trip cancelations, missed connections or even lost bags, which can all be covered with a good travel insurance policy. (iStock)
Stefaniak said compared to the cost of some trips, adding insurance is a nominal fee.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"A base plan might cost between $250 to $500 or so dollars," he said.
"If you're booking a $5,000 or $6,000 trip, a $400 or $500 expense is still a very good peace of mind to have in place."
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The cost is also based on the level of coverage you need.
Find that peace of mind when traveling, knowing that even if obstacles get in the way, you are financially protected. (iStock)
"If you're doing things like rock climbing, that might not be covered in a traditional plan," Stefaniak said. "It might be something you want to add on to the policy."
Stefaniak said many travel insurance providers have apps that can provide extra support and travel information to subscribers.
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"So many people are increasingly traveling alone that you want to make sure that the places that you explore and have dinner at are very, very safe."
It's more important than ever to make sure you're safe when you travel, especially as more and more people take solo trips. (iStock)
Many of the plans offer 24-hour assistance.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Say you’re on the other side of the world and you need to get a hold of the carrier, [then] you can get the help you need for whatever you're experiencing," he said.
Richter said she tells travelers that protecting a trip is protecting an investment.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Especially if you're doing a honeymoon or a big bucket-list trip, you really want to ensure that," she said.
Protect your personal data
Be wary of possible data breaches when on vacation or even waiting at the airport. (iStock)
The number of data compromises in 2023 increased by 78% compared to the previous year, according to an Annual Data Breach Report published by the Identity Theft Resource Center.
When people are on vacation, they are often more vulnerable to an attack on their personal data due to using public Wi-Fi networks and exposure to a tactic called "juice jerking" where thieves install malware through basic USB charging stations and use it to steal information.
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"Take the necessary precautions to protect yourself," she said. "Nothing is foolproof."
Consider looking into VPNs (viral private networks) and see how the technology can create a secure, encrypted connection. (CyberGuy.com)
One of the top ways data is breached is through password protection, or lack thereof.
A recent survey by ExpressVPN, a virtual private network (VPN) provider, found that 81% of Americans have shared passwords with their spouse or significant other, which can compromise their online security.
A VPN is a technology that creates a secure, encrypted connection over the internet that masks your IP address and protects your online activity.
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Before booking your next vacation, make sure you do your research and avoid these possible scams before taking off. (iStock)
This way you can browse the web more securely, especially on public Wi-Fi networks.
But once your password is compromised, even a VPN can’t protect your data.
Richter suggested traveling with battery packs, so you're not plugging your phone in at airports.
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"You want to be careful with the Wi-Fi networks that you're joining, too. There’s a portable Wi-Fi device that provides not only a level of safety and security but also helps if you happen to be somewhere where there's no Wi-Fi."