What to Do If You Book a Hotel or Airbnb and It Turns Out to Be a Scam

Summer vacation season is upon us, and millions of families are booking accommodations for their dream getaways. But with the surge in travel bookings comes an unfortunate reality: accommodation scams are on the rise, and they’re becoming increasingly sophisticated. As a cybersecurity professional, I’ve seen how devastating these scams can be—not just financially, but emotionally, when your family vacation turns into a nightmare.

The good news? With the right knowledge and proactive measures, you can protect yourself and your family from these predators. Even better, if you do fall victim to a scam, there are specific steps you can take to minimize the damage and potentially recover your losses.

The Harsh Reality: Travel Scams Are Exploding

Travel accommodation fraud has skyrocketed in recent years. Scammers have become expert at creating convincing fake listings on legitimate platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and even creating entirely fraudulent websites that mimic well-known hotel chains. They steal photos from real properties, craft compelling descriptions, and even create fake reviews to lure unsuspecting travelers.
What makes these scams particularly insidious is the emotional investment. You’re planning a special family vacation, perhaps saving for months, and the excitement of finding what seems like the “perfect” place clouds your judgment. Scammers exploit this vulnerability ruthlessly.

Red Flags: How to Spot a Scam Before You Book

I can tell you that prevention is always your best defense. Here are the warning signs that should make you pause before clicking “book now”:

Price Red Flags:

• Prices are significantly below market rate for the area
• Requests for payment outside the platform (via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency)
• Demands for large upfront payments or full payment before arrival
• No clear cancellation policy or unreasonably strict terms

Property Red Flags:

• Limited or professional-looking photos that seem too perfect
• No street address provided, only general area descriptions
• Lack of recent reviews or reviews that seem fake (overly generic language)
• No contact information for the property beyond the initial booking contact

Booking Site Red Flags:

• Websites with recent domain registration dates
• No secure payment processing (look for “https” and padlock icons)
• Missing contact information, terms of service, or privacy policies
• Unprofessional website design or broken links

Immediate Action Steps If You Discover a Scam

If you’ve fallen victim to an accommodation scam, time is critical. Here’s what you need to do immediately:

Step 1: Document Everything (First 24 Hours)

• Screenshot all communications, listings, confirmation emails, and payment receipts
• Save any photos or descriptions from the original listing
• Note exact dates, times, and methods of all communications
• Create a detailed timeline of events

Step 2: Contact Your Financial Institution (Immediately)

• Call your credit card company or bank to report the fraudulent charge
• Request a chargeback or dispute the transaction
• Ask to have your card frozen if you suspect further unauthorized access
• Credit cards generally offer better fraud protection than debit cards

Step 3: Report to the Platform (Within 24-48 Hours)

• Contact the booking platform’s customer service immediately
• Provide all documentation you’ve gathered
• Follow their specific fraud reporting procedures
• Keep detailed records of all customer service interactions

Step 4: File Official Reports (Within 72 Hours)

• Report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov)
• Contact local law enforcement if substantial money is involved
• Report to your state’s attorney general’s office

Step 5: Monitor Your Accounts and Identity

• Check all bank and credit card statements for unauthorized charges
• Review your credit reports for any suspicious activity
• Change passwords for any accounts that might have been compromised
• Set up fraud alerts with credit bureaus
• Long-Term Recovery and Protection Strategies
• Beyond immediate damage control, you need to think about long-term protection for you and your family. This is where comprehensive digital protection becomes crucial.

How McAfee Can Protect Your Family from Travel Scams

One of the most effective ways to protect your family from travel scams and other online threats is to implement comprehensive digital protection. Solutions like McAfee’s family protection plans offer multiple layers of security that work together to keep scammers at bay.

Modern family protection services provide several key features that directly combat travel scams:

Real-Time Scam Protection: Advanced scam detection technology automatically identifies and blocks fraudulent websites, phishing emails, and suspicious links before you interact with them. This means if you accidentally click on a fake booking site, the protection software will warn you before you enter any personal information.

Secure VPN for Travel Research: When researching accommodations on public Wi-Fi networks (like those in airports or coffee shops), a VPN encrypts your connection, preventing scammers from intercepting your personal information or redirecting you to fake websites.

Financial Transaction Monitoring: Comprehensive protection plans monitor your bank accounts and credit cards for unusual activity (US only), sending immediate alerts if suspicious transactions occur. This early warning system can help you catch fraudulent charges within hours rather than weeks.

Identity Monitoring and Dark Web Surveillance: These services continuously scan the dark web and other sources where stolen personal information is traded, alerting you if your data appears in places it shouldn’t. This is particularly valuable since accommodation scammers often sell stolen personal information to other criminals.

Personal Data Cleanup: Many protection services help identify and remove your personal information from data broker sites that scammers often use to research potential victims and make their approaches more convincing.
For families, comprehensive protection plans typically cover up to six family members, providing each person with their own monitoring and protection while giving parents oversight of their children’s online activities. With identity theft coverage up to $2 million per family and 24/7 restoration assistance, these services provide both prevention and recovery support.

The Bottom Line: Protection Is Worth the Investment

Twenty years in cybersecurity has taught me that the cost of prevention is always less than the cost of recovery. Whether it’s taking time to properly research accommodations, investing in comprehensive family protection software, or educating your family about scam tactics, these upfront investments pay dividends in peace of mind and financial security.

Travel scams prey on our excitement and trust during what should be joyful family times. By staying vigilant, using proper protection tools, and knowing how to respond quickly if something goes wrong, you can ensure your family’s summer vacation memories are made for all the right reasons.

Remember: legitimate accommodation providers want to build trust and will readily provide verification. If anyone pressures you to skip verification steps or pay through unusual methods, walk away. Your family’s safety and financial security are worth more than any “deal” that seems too good to be true.

Safe travels, and remember—the best vacation is one where the only surprises are pleasant ones.