As the 2025 summer travel season begins, staying informed and protected while planning your getaway is more crucial than ever. To help travelers avoid costly mistakes, our experts at Kinglike Concierge have analyzed over 1,500 travel scam reports submitted to the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker between April 2024 and April 2025. The goal? To uncover the most common and financially damaging travel scams targeting U.S. consumers.
So, before you book your next escape, explore our findings below. From the most frequent scam types to the states hit the hardest, this guide will help you stay one step ahead, because booking your dream vacation should never come with hidden risks.
Revealed: The Most Common Travel Scams in the U.S.
Based on over 1,500 scam reports submitted across the U.S., the most frequent scams travelers encountered were airline or flight scams, with 580 reports in just one year, involving the likes of fake ticket confirmations, phishing emails and bogus airline websites. This is apparently the main scam to look out for, so be aware when researching flights for your upcoming trip.
Ever thought a deal was too good to be true? With 308 reports of travel agent or agency scams on Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker, this particular scam is often presented through social media or unsolicited offers through phone calls or texts riddled with too good to be true deals. In fact, scammers even go to extreme lengths in copying official websites making them look exactly like a reputable travel agency. Make sure to thoroughly research any provider or agent you are thinking of booking through.
Looking to plan a cruise vacation? You’re not the only one. According to a survey, interest in cruise vacations in the United States increased significantly from 2022 to 2024. Scammers have clocked on to the sudden interest in cruise vacations, targeting budding travellers through frequently promised “free” or “luxury” cruises, that actually come with hidden fees or never materialize at all.
If you’re planning a premium vacation, we recommend booking through verified travel providers with a strong reputation. At Kinglike Concierge, we offer the expertise and trust you can rely on with every single booking – take a look at 10 reasons to book with us here.
The Most Costly Travel Scams in the U.S
Some scams might not be the most common, but they’re the most expensive. Among the cases reported, these scams resulted in the highest average financial losses per victim:
According to the analysis of 1,500 reported travel scams in the past year, Americans lost a whopping $2.6 million between April 2024 and April 2025. Following the most common scams data, it’ll come as no surprise that airline & flight scams are the most costly, with a staggering $1.1 million lost.
However, the most common doesn’t always mean the most costly when it comes to travel scams. Timeshare scams are the second most costly travel scams in the U.S. with $617k lost by people looking to share luxury accommodations, despite it being ranked fourth in the most common scams.
This is then followed by $587k lost to airline & flight scams. Whether you’re booking a private jet, yacht charter, or upscale accommodation, make sure all payments go through verified, secure platforms. If you’re looking to book an unforgettable luxury experience, we offer bespoke vacation rental packages across Mykonos, Corfu, Paros, Antiparos, and Tuscany.
The Most Scammed States by Report Volume
Certain states experienced a higher number of fraudulent travel incidents, though whether this was due to higher targeting from scammers or a lack of education on the subject isn’t clear. The states that reported the highest number of scams were New York, Florida and California.
New York led with 242 reports, followed by Florida with 169 reports, and California with 106 reports. These states are major travel hubs with large populations, high tourism levels, and international gateways, making them prime targets for scammers.
These states are among the most populous in the U.S. and receive millions of domestic and international visitors each year, naturally increasing the likelihood of exposure to scam attempts, as more people actively search for flights, accommodations, and travel packages.
Top 10 U.S. States That Lost the Most Money to Travel Scams
Some states lost significantly more money than others.
New York once again topped the list with $439,000 in losses, followed closely by California with $361,000, and Maine with $240,000.
Travelers in New York and California often engage in high-cost travel, including luxury vacations, international trips, or premium services (e.g., business-class flights, private rentals), which can increase the average monetary loss per scam. Maine’s significant financial losses were caused by scams targeted at a population that skews older or retired victims and may be more susceptible to sophisticated scams.
Here is a breakdown of travel scam losses by state:
How to Avoid These Travel Scams
1. Airline/Flight Scams
Scammers frequently impersonate airlines or ticketing platforms to steal payment information or issue fake confirmations.
How to avoid it:
- Only book flights through official airline websites or verified travel platforms. Try to avoid third-party resellers, unless they’re well-known and accredited (e.g., Expedia, Kayak, Skyscanner).
- Scrutinize all communications for inconsistencies. Phishing emails often use generic greetings, incorrect domain names, or urgent language. Always check the email address to see if it is an official account belonging to the company contacting you.
- Verify flight confirmations and only make reservation changes by logging directly into the airline’s official site or contacting their customer service directly.
2. Travel Agent/ Agency Scams
Fraudulent travel agents can mimic legitimate agencies using convincing websites, branding, social media ads and often over the phone.
How to avoid it:
- Confirm agency credentials through industry bodies such as the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) or International Air Transport Association (IATA).
- Don’t engage with unsolicited calls, texts, or emails offering last-minute deals.
- Never finalize bookings or transfer funds without a signed, detailed itinerary and terms. Reputable agents provide contracts and clear cancellation policies.
- Avoid high-pressure sales tactics or agents that demand immediate, non-refundable payments via cash apps, wire transfers, or gift cards.
- Read online reviews and check if the agency has a physical address and customer service line.
3. Cruise Scams
Fake cruise offers often entice victims with “free” or “deeply discounted” trips, that actually require hidden upfront fees or don’t exist at all.
How to avoid it:
- Be cautious of unsolicited cruise offers, especially those labeled as “winnings” or “exclusive invites.” Reputable cruise lines do not operate this way.
- Validate the cruise details directly with the official cruise company. Cross-check departure dates, ship names, and itineraries.
- Ask for a written contract outlining all fees, taxes, port charges, and cancellation policies before submitting any payment.
4. Timeshare Scams
Victims can be lured into illegitimate timeshare deals or resale offers with promises of luxury and exclusivity.
How to avoid it:
- Engage a real estate attorney or licensed advisor before signing any timeshare contract. Many scams rely on verbal commitments not reflected in the contract.
- Research the developer, location, and previous customer complaints via platforms like the BBB and consumer forums.
- Never pay resale or exit fees upfront. Legitimate timeshare exit services will offer performance-based agreements, not large initial payments.
5. Accommodation/Hotel Scams
These scams often use fake listings, cloned hotel websites, or fraudulent booking emails.
How to avoid it:
- Book only through well-established accommodation platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, or the hotel’s direct website. Use built-in messaging and payment systems.
- Research the property and host thoroughly, paying close attention to reviews, booking history, and cancellation policies.
- Do not engage with hosts or agents who request payment outside the booking platform. This circumvents consumer protection mechanisms.
6. Passport Related Scams
Fraudsters set up fake websites resembling government portals to collect personal information and charge excessive fees.
How to avoid it:
- Access passport services only through the official U.S. Department of State website (travel.state.gov).
- Be suspicious of any site charging significantly more than standard passport processing fees ($130 for an adult renewal as of 2025).
- Check for the “.gov” domain in the URL, and ensure the site uses HTTPS encryption.
7. Travel Exhibit Scams
During the analysis period some people were contacted by scammers pretending to invite them to a travel event, promising a free trip or luxury discounts, but it was actually a scam using high-pressure sales tactics and hidden charges.
How to avoid it:
- Verify the event organizer and check for previous expos they’ve hosted. Look for listings on legitimate trade or tourism websites.
- Avoid signing contracts or making payments on the spot. Always take printed material home for review and compare offers.
- Check reviews from past attendees, and avoid any offer that requires immediate commitment or a deposit during the event.
8. Travel Reservations Scams
Fraudsters impersonate hotels or booking services, claiming issues with your reservation and requesting payment or information to “reconfirm.”
How to avoid it:
- Always contact hotels or travel providers directly using the contact information found on their official websites. Never respond to unverified calls or emails.
- Cross-reference booking confirmation numbers with official systems to verify status.
- Never provide credit card or personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call to a verified number.
9. Toll Scams
Scammers send fake notices, often via text or email, demanding payment for supposed unpaid tolls.
How to avoid it:
- Visit your state’s official toll agency website (e.g., EZPass, SunPass) to check for any outstanding charges.
- Do not click links or make payments through unsolicited toll messages. Instead, verify the legitimacy of the notice directly.
- Set up a secure toll account with automatic payments to track legitimate usage and receive official notices.
Travel Confidently with Kinglike Concierge
Unlike high-risk marketplaces, Kinglike Concierge offers a curated experience designed for security, privacy, and authenticity. Whether you’re interested in a Mykonos villa or luxury experiences, our team protects you from the start of your booking journey to the end of your stay.
Don’t let scammers ruin your trip, travel with confidence.
Methodology:
To identify the most harmful and common travel scams targeting American consumers, we analyzed travel-related scam reports submitted to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker between April 2024, and April 2025. This period was selected to capture a full year of data leading into the 2025 summer travel season. We filtered the reports to include only those categorized as travel, vacation, or timeshare-related scams within the United States. Each report included key details such as the type of scam, description of the incident, location of the person who was scammed, date, whether or not money was lost, and the amount lost if applicable.
Note: It’s important to note that a total of $847,529 was lost to travel scams reported from an unknown location. This amount has been included in the total loss of $2.6 million mentioned in this article.