{"id":230047,"date":"2026-05-22T05:00:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T12:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=230047"},"modified":"2026-05-21T09:41:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T16:41:54","slug":"scam-news-memorial-day-weekend-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/scam-news-memorial-day-weekend-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Scams to Watch for This Memorial Day Weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Memorial Day weekend officially kicks off summer,\u00a0and for millions of Americans, that means road trips, flights, cookouts, and a little online shopping for the deals.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Unfortunately, scammers know this. They count on the fact that you&#8217;re distracted, you&#8217;re moving fast, and you&#8217;re probably connected to a network you don&#8217;t own.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Here are five\u00a0scams\u00a0surging this holiday weekend<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, what they look like, and how to stay ahead of them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>1. Fake Travel Alerts from &#8220;Your Bank&#8221; or Hotel<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You&#8217;re\u00a0packing your bag when a text arrives: &#8220;Unusual activity detected on your account. Verify now to avoid suspension.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It looks like\u00a0it&#8217;s\u00a0from your bank, or\u00a0maybe your\u00a0hotel loyalty program.\u00a0There&#8217;s\u00a0a link. There&#8217;s urgency. And\u00a0that&#8217;s\u00a0exactly the point.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">These are brand impersonation\u00a0scams, and\u00a0they&#8217;re\u00a0a dominant tactic year-round,\u00a0but they spike around travel holidays when people are actively\u00a0monitoring\u00a0reservations and accounts.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_230048\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-230048\" style=\"width: 568px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-230048\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Example-of-scam-travel-messages-3.png\" alt=\"Example of a fraudulent AMEX message.\" width=\"568\" height=\"216\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Example-of-scam-travel-messages-3.png 568w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Example-of-scam-travel-messages-3-300x114.png 300w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Example-of-scam-travel-messages-3-205x78.png 205w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-230048\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Example of a fraudulent AMEX message.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">According to McAfee research, trusted brands like banks, airlines, and hotels are among the\u00a0most commonly impersonated, and email\u00a0scams\u00a0impersonating retail and financial brands\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/the-most-impersonated-brands-in-holiday-shopping-ranked\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">have surged up to 85%<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0as major holidays approach.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The message will typically ask you to click a link and &#8220;confirm your details&#8221; to secure your account or\u00a0honor\u00a0a reservation. That link leads to a convincing-looking fake site designed to capture your login credentials, payment info, or both.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How to Avoid Travel Alert Scams:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Don&#8217;t\u00a0click links in unsolicited texts or emails.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Go directly to the company&#8217;s app or website by typing the URL yourself.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Remember: pressure is a tactic, not customer service.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/en-us\/scam-detector\/?path=blogs\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">McAfee&#8217;s Scam Detector<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0can flag suspicious messages before you interact with them, whether they come via text, email, or social media.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"none\">2. Fake Memorial Day Weekend &#8220;Deals&#8221;<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Memorial Day is one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year. Scammers treat it like an open invitation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Fraudulent retailers flood social feeds with too-good-to-be-true deals on everything from patio furniture to electronics, often impersonating legitimate brands with copycat websites and paid ads.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">According to McAfee&#8217;s\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/the-most-impersonated-brands-in-holiday-shopping-ranked\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">holiday shopping research<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, 91% of shoppers see ads from unfamiliar retailers, 37% say they might buy from a brand they\u00a0don&#8217;t\u00a0recognize, and a full 40% of consumers have abandoned a purchase out of fear that the deal\u00a0wasn&#8217;t\u00a0real.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The most impersonated brands in McAfee&#8217;s research span luxury labels (Coach, Dior, Gucci) to mainstream\u00a0favorites\u00a0(Apple, Samsung, Nintendo, Disney),\u00a0exactly the kind of items that show up in &#8220;blowout sale&#8221; ads.\u00a0Fake storefronts have grown significantly, with technology URL\u00a0scams\u00a0rising\u00a0nearly 50%.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once shoppers enter their payment details on a fraudulent site, that information goes directly to criminals. The average\u00a0scam\u00a0loss during the holiday shopping period runs around $840 per victim.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How to Avoid Shopping Scams:\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Type retailer URLs directly into your browser instead of clicking through ads or social posts.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Look for HTTPS and double-check the domain carefully before entering any payment info.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If a deal looks unbelievably good, verify it on the retailer&#8217;s official app before buying.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms\/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcafee.com.mcas.ms%2Flearn%2Fweb-protection%2F%3Fpath%3Dblogs%26McasTsid%3D20892&amp;McasCSRF=2523f91618c87a85b66e7a4303ebc49b9eaa014e09a09d4bc1b75599a5704456\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">McAfee&#8217;s Web Protection<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0blocks malicious and suspicious sites before they load, including fake checkout pages.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"none\">3. QR Code Scams at Gas Stations and Travel Stops<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0road-tripping this weekend, you\u00a0may\u00a0scan\u00a0a QR code somewhere.\u00a0It could be at the gas pump, a rest stop, a parking meter, or a roadside attraction. Scammers know this too.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Criminals increasingly place fake QR codes over legitimate ones on gas station pumps, parking kiosks, and public signs. When you scan,\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0redirected to a convincing-looking payment or login page that captures your financial information. This is known as &#8220;quishing&#8221;\u00a0or\u00a0phishing via QR code.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Scamiverse.pdf\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">McAfee research<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0shows just how widespread this risk has become: 68% of people scanned a QR code in the past three months, and 18% ended up on a suspicious or unsafe page after scanning. Among those who did, more than half took a risky action like entering personal information, installing an app, or connecting a digital wallet.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How to Avoid Sketchy QR Codes:\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Before scanning any QR code in public, look closely at the sticker or sign.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If it looks like\u00a0it&#8217;s\u00a0been placed over something else, skip it.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you do scan, check the URL before\u00a0proceeding.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/en-us\/scam-detector\/?path=blogs\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">McAfee&#8217;s Scam Detector<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0now includes instant QR code safety checks that assess risk before you tap, so\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0not flying blind at the gas pump.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_226036\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-226036\" style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-226036 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/QR-Scan-Example.png\" alt=\"QR Scan Example\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/QR-Scan-Example.png 1000w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/QR-Scan-Example-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/QR-Scan-Example-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/QR-Scan-Example-205x115.png 205w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-226036\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>This shows how McAfee blocks unsafe QR codes.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"none\">4. Public Wi-Fi Traps at Airports, Hotels, and Coffee Shops<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Whether\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0waiting at the airport or grabbing coffee before hitting the highway, free Wi-Fi can feel like a gift. But not every &#8220;free Wi-Fi&#8221; network is what it appears to be.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hackers set up what are called &#8220;evil twin&#8221; networks,\u00a0hotspots with names designed to look exactly like the legitimate network at the airport, hotel, or caf\u00e9\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0in.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The moment you connect, they can use tools called packet sniffers to capture the data you send and\u00a0receive:\u00a0passwords, banking credentials, credit card numbers, email logins.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/internet-security\/travel-booking-vacation-scams-how-to-spot\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">According to McAfee&#8217;s travel research<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, 63% of\u00a0travelers\u00a0connect to public Wi-Fi, and 49% use airport Wi-Fi,\u00a0making these among the riskiest\u00a0behaviors\u00a0travelers\u00a0engage in without realizing it.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Some of these fake networks go further, presenting a phony login screen that captures your username and password for popular services like Google or Apple before you even realize\u00a0you&#8217;ve\u00a0been compromised.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How to Avoid Malicious Wi-Fi\u00a0:<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Always confirm the exact Wi-Fi network name with staff before connecting.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Turn off auto-join for Wi-Fi on your devices.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And most importantly: use a VPN.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel for your internet traffic, so even if a hacker intercepts it,\u00a0they&#8217;ll\u00a0only see scrambled data.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/en-us\/vpn.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">McAfee&#8217;s VPN<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0is included in McAfee+ plans and automatically connects when you join public Wi-Fi,\u00a0exactly the protection you want when\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0traveling and connecting everywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>5. Toll Road and Parking Text Scams (Expect a Surge After the Weekend)<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You may have seen these already: a text that says you owe an unpaid toll or parking fee, with a link to pay before penalties kick in. These\u00a0scams\u00a0have been circulating for a while,\u00a0and\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0a good chance\u00a0Memorial Day weekend is about to make them worse.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Scammers track news cycles and know that millions of Americans will be driving this weekend, many of them through toll roads and unfamiliar areas.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That means they can blast out fake &#8220;unpaid toll&#8221; texts after the holiday and a significant percentage of recipients will think: &#8220;Actually, I did drive somewhere new this weekend.&#8221; That uncertainty is exactly what\u00a0they&#8217;re\u00a0counting on.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_227975\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-227975\" style=\"width: 849px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wpa-warning wpa-image-missing-alt wp-image-227975 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Image-849x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"849\" height=\"1024\" data-warning=\"Missing alt text\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Image-849x1024.jpeg 849w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Image-249x300.jpeg 249w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Image-768x926.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Image-107x129.jpeg 107w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Image.jpeg 1179w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 849px) 100vw, 849px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-227975\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fake court notices threatening parking and toll violations have been making the rounds this spring.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">These texts typically impersonate\u00a0EZPass,\u00a0SunPass, or state transportation departments and create urgency around a small fee to avoid larger fines. The link leads to a fake payment page designed to steal your credit card details.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How to Avoid Toll Scams:\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Don&#8217;t\u00a0click links in unsolicited toll or parking texts.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you think the charge might be legitimate, go directly to your state&#8217;s official toll authority website and look up your account there.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Real toll agencies will not threaten immediate penalties over text with a payment link.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you receive one of these texts after this weekend, treat it as suspicious by default.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Have a Safe\u00a0Memorial\u00a0Day Weekend<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:281,&quot;335559739&quot;:281}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Scammers\u00a0don&#8217;t\u00a0take holidays. If anything, long weekends are peak season. The good news: a little awareness goes a long way. Slow down before you click, verify before you scan, and protect your connection before you log on.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/en-us\/identity-theft\/protection.html?path=blogs\">McAfee+ Advanced<\/a> comes with layered protection\u00a0across all the moments where\u00a0scams\u00a0are most likely to strike,\u00a0from the gas station to the hotel lobby to your inbox.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Stay safe out there.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Memorial Day weekend officially kicks off summer,\u00a0and for millions of Americans, that means road trips, flights, cookouts, and a little&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1440,"featured_media":193972,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10667,10661,13,12],"tags":[],"coauthors":[16632],"class_list":["post-230047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-security-news","category-internet-security","category-privacy-identity-protection","category-family-safety"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>5 Scams to Watch for This Memorial Day Weekend | McAfee Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Heading out for Memorial Day weekend? 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From fake travel alerts to QR code traps, here are 5 scams to watch for and how to stay protected on the road.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/scam-news-memorial-day-weekend-travel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"McAfee Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/McAfee\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-22T12:00:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/300x200_Blog_061024.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"300\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Brooke Seipel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@McAfee\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@McAfee\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Brooke Seipel\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/scam-news-memorial-day-weekend-travel\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/scam-news-memorial-day-weekend-travel\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Brooke Seipel\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#\/schema\/person\/e0177129df164a74082f47397af3e729\"},\"headline\":\"5 Scams to Watch for This Memorial Day Weekend\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-22T12:00:36+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/scam-news-memorial-day-weekend-travel\/\"},\"wordCount\":1334,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/scam-news-memorial-day-weekend-travel\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/300x200_Blog_061024.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Security News\",\"Internet Security\",\"Privacy &amp; Identity Protection\",\"Family Safety\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/scam-news-memorial-day-weekend-travel\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/scam-news-memorial-day-weekend-travel\/\",\"name\":\"5 Scams to Watch for This Memorial Day Weekend | McAfee Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/scam-news-memorial-day-weekend-travel\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/scam-news-memorial-day-weekend-travel\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/300x200_Blog_061024.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-22T12:00:36+00:00\",\"description\":\"Heading out for Memorial Day weekend? 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