Don’t Let These Scams Spoil Your Vacation

If nothing else, a vacation is supposed to be relaxing—a chance to get away from the stress and worry of daily life. But for the unwary, scams can turn a vacation into one of the most stressful and costly lessons ever. Canadian travelers heading to Spain, Greece, or anywhere else abroad can be prime targets. Not only for street cons, but online fraud.

Fake rentals, misleading guides, and flight ticket scams are just the beginning. Every year, countless traps are set for careless tourists. How convincing they can be makes most of these scams so potentially damaging. That said, by knowing the most common ones and how they work, travelers can take some simple precautions. These precautions can help keep trips safe and put the focus back on enjoyment.

Spotting Common Travel Scams

In-Person Scams

Scammers try to take advantage of people in unfamiliar places. Fraud in more popular destinations, like Spain, also spikes by 28% during peak seasons. One of the most common traps is the fake vacation rental. Here, fraudsters copy real rental listings and post them at low prices. Tourists are lured in by the bargain price and pay a deposit for property they’ll never be able to stay at. When they arrive, they find no booking, or worse, the owner is completely unaware that their property was used for a fake listing.

Another common scam revolves around unlicensed tour guides. Again, the victims are lured in by low prices, but for packages with little value. Sometimes they include massive hidden fees. In some cases, it costs some wasted time. It can also drain travel budgets, and there is no way to recover the funds.

There are the classic scams that never seem to go away. Unlicensed taxis that hold you hostage. Pickpockets roam tourist areas in groups—some run passport checkpoints or currency exchange scams.

Avoid most of these by sticking to more prominent, well-reviewed platforms or services. Be sure you always confirm bookings directly with property managers. Research tour operators and routes in advance. Learn what it takes to be a legitimate taxi, and how to identify fakes.

Flight Ticket Fraud

One of the most popular scams targeting Canadian travelers is fake flight ticket sales. Scammers advertise insanely attractive fares and vacation package prices on unofficial websites, social media, email, and even tried-and-true spam emails.

Be careful. Once you pay, you’ll get a fake confirmation, and sometimes even a real-looking digital ticket. Even when appearing real, the ticket information is voided before boarding. No matter how it happens, by the time you notice, it’s too late and the money’s gone.

The biggest red flags for this scam are the unusual payment methods. Gift cards and wire transfers are pretty obvious scams. However, some scammers have pivoted to fintech apps that are allowed in the region where they operate. Hit the brakes if you see a payment through a social tag or a payment app QR code.

Do a quick reality check. Are the prices way lower than what any other major platform is offering? Even when the site or socials look professional, this could indicate a scam. Branding can be used to a huge advantage, and most people can’t tell when it’s a real or fake business.

The safest approach is booking flights through established platforms or travel agencies. Use trusted websites, verified platforms, and licensed local travel agents. Always double-check details with the airline or travel provider directly before travel. Spending a few extra minutes to verify things can save you hours and thousands of dollars later.

Other Online Travel Scams

Not all scams are face-to-face; some will try to hit you before you leave. Fraud that happens in the early stages of travel grew more than 12% in 2024. Phishing emails are a common trick. Emails from criminals posing as airlines, booking sites, sweepstakes prize distribution, and more, will bait you to interact. Confirm your ticket. Verify a failed payment. Claim your free gift. Different pretexts, same scam. Clicking any link means it’s already too late.

Another scheme involves bogus travel insurance. Scammers offer low-cost policies that provide little to no real coverage, leaving travelers unprotected when emergencies happen. Airport and hotel Wi-Fi can also be a trap. Fake networks mimic legitimate ones, tricking users into connecting so attackers can monitor browsing and capture sensitive information.

All of these can be successful because they feel like part of the routine. Checking email, adding insurance to a vacation plan, even just logging into some open Wi-Fi. Recognizing the red flags and taking extra precautions can considerably lower your vulnerability to scams.

Building Cybersecurity Habits for Travellers

Good cybersecurity habits can be an effective shield against scams. First, anytime you need to book or pay for something, use a secure connection. Public Wi-Fi is convenient, but it’s never secure. Stick to mobile data or wait until you can use a trusted connection.

Baseline account security makes a big difference, too. 2FA or MFA requirements can add one or more extra steps before granting access, even with a password. App-based codes or hardware tokens are more secure than text messages, which can be intercepted. Updating passwords regularly helps ensure stolen data from past breaches can’t be reused.

Travelers can also improve their protection with a virtual private network. A VPN encrypts internet traffic and hides browsing activity, keeping scammers from spying on bookings or payment details. Using VPN on iPhone gives travelers an added layer of defense when they must connect through a hotel or airport Wi-Fi connection.

Travelling Safely and Staying Alert

Vacations should be memorable for the right reasons. By watching for scams and practicing strong cybersecurity habits, Canadian travelers can confidently explore Europe and beyond, knowing they have the tools to protect their money and memories.