Summer Travel Scams: How to Protect Your Money While You’re Away 

Unfortunately, travel season is also prime time for scammers looking to take advantage of distracted travelers.

Fraudsters know travelers are often busy, excited, and less focused on security. The good news? You can significantly reduce your risk by recognizing common scams and taking a few simple precautions.

Before you pack your bags, know what to watch for including fake booking websites, card skimming devices, QR code scams, public Wi-Fi risks, and compromised USB charging stations. Using Tap to Pay, enabling account alerts, and monitoring your accounts can help keep your finances secure while you’re away.

Scammers create fake rental listings, travel websites, or special offers using stolen photos and information to make them appear legitimate. They may request payment through wire transfers, gift cards, or other methods that provide little protection. Once payment is made, the listing disappears or the vacation deal never existed. 

Protect yourself by:

• Booking through reputable travel websites or directly with the property or provider
• Reading recent reviews and verifying listings before making payments
• Avoiding deals that seem too good to be true
• Visiting official websites directly instead of clicking links in unexpected messages
• Using a credit card when booking travel, which may offer additional fraud protections

Scammers often impersonate airlines, hotels, rental car companies, or travel agencies. They may claim there is a problem with your reservation and ask you to click a link, provide personal information, or make a payment.

Criminals may also use fake QR codes to direct travelers to fraudulent websites designed to steal information.

Protect yourself by:

• Accessing reservations through the company’s official website or app
• Verifying the sender before clicking links or scanning QR codes
• Checking website addresses for misspellings or unusual formatting
• Ignoring urgent requests for payment or account verification
• Never sharing passwords or personal information through unexpected messages

Free Wi-Fi at airports, hotels, and cafés can be convenient, but it may not always be secure. Cybercriminals can use unsecured networks or create fake networks to capture sensitive information.

Protect yourself by:

• Avoiding online banking or financial transactions when using public Wi-Fi
• Using your mobile network, personal hotspot, or a trusted VPN whenever possible
• Turning off automatic Wi-Fi connections

Criminals sometimes install hidden skimming devices on ATMs, gas pumps, or payment terminals to capture card information.

Protect yourself by:

• Using Tap to Pay whenever possible. Contactless payments like Tap to Pay use encrypted, one-time transaction codes that make it more difficult for criminals to steal your card information
• Inspecting card readers before using them to ensure they have not been tampered with
• Covering the keypad when entering your PIN
• Using ATMs located inside financial institutions whenever possible

Public USB charging stations can pose a cybersecurity risk if the charging port or cable has been compromised to steal data or install malware.

Protect yourself by:

• Bringing your own wall charger or portable power bank
• Using a charge-only USB cable or USB data blocker if you must use a public charging station

A few simple precautions can go a long way toward protecting your finances. By booking through trusted providers, avoiding suspicious links and QR codes, using Tap to Pay, enabling account alerts, and monitoring your accounts regularly, you can focus on enjoying your vacation—not recovering from fraud. A little preparation goes a long way.

Before your trip:

• Enable account and card alerts to receive real-time notifications
• Use Tap to Pay whenever available
• Monitor your accounts regularly while traveling
• Carry more than one payment method
• Enable multi-factor authentication and use strong, unique passwords
• Keep your financial institution’s contact information handy in case you need to report a lost or stolen card
• Keep your devices locked with a password, PIN, or biometric authentication
• Avoid using public computers to access financial accounts
• Be mindful of sharing your travel plans publicly on social media

At Lafayette Federal Credit Union, we encourage members to review their accounts regularly and enable transaction alerts before traveling. Detecting suspicious activity early can help minimize fraud and provide greater peace of mind. 

If your card is lost, stolen, or you notice unauthorized transactions:

• Lock or freeze your card
• Report suspicious activity immediately
• Continue monitoring your accounts
• Update passwords if you believe your accounts have been compromised

The sooner fraud is reported, the sooner your financial institution can help protect your accounts.

Is Tap to Pay safer than swiping my card?
Yes. Tap to Pay uses encrypted, one-time transaction codes that make it more difficult for criminals to steal your card information.

Should I set up card alerts before traveling?
Yes. Real-time alerts help you quickly identify unauthorized purchases so you can take action immediately.

Can public Wi-Fi steal my banking information?
Public Wi-Fi isn’t always secure. Avoid accessing financial accounts on public networks unless you’re using a trusted VPN or personal hotspot.

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 

• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) 

• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)