Planning a Trip? Don’t Let a Quick Google Search Send You to a Scammer

A delayed flight, a missing hotel reservation or a last-minute conference change can quickly send anyone searching for help.

But scammers know that travelers are often stressed and hurried. They use paid search ads, lookalike websites, and fake customer-support numbers to appear when people search for an airline, hotel, or car-rental company.

Key takeaways

• Sponsored search results can lead to fake travel websites and customer-support numbers
• Never share card details, passport information or bank verification codes with a number you found through an unverified search result
• Use the official app, website or a trusted booking confirmation to contact a travel provider
• A quick pause to verify independently can prevent an expensive mistake

The US Federal Trade Commission has warned travelers about paid search ads and official-looking websites that lead to fake customer-support numbers. In other words, a search for help with a flight, hotel, booking or rental car can put you in touch with a scammer instead of the assistance you wanted to reach.

And it’s not just a holiday-travel problem. It can happen when you are arranging a weekend away, trying to get home for the holidays, booking a work trip or dealing with a last-minute conference change.

How the scam works

This type of scam doesn’t necessarily begin with an unbelievable deal or a strange message. From flight delays and cancellations to last-minute reservation changes, these situations can happen to anyone.

Perhaps you spot an unfamiliar hotel charge, or you need to check whether your booking is still valid after arriving late. You search for help, and the result looks right: the airline or hotel name is there and the logo is familiar.

But here’s the catch: scammers can run paid ads and create websites designed to appear in those same searches. Once you call the number or fill in a form on a scam website, they may offer to “help” with your reservation.

They may tell you that:

• Your booking needs an urgent payment to remain valid
• There is a fee to change or cancel your reservation
• You need to confirm your identity by sharing passport details, card information or a one-time code
• They can arrange a refund, but first need your banking information
• Your original booking can’ be fixed, but they can sell you a replacement

The problem is that the person offering help isn’t connected to the airline, hotel or rental company at all. They may take your money, steal your personal data, or leave you with fake booking.

Why this works so well

Travel scams thrive on a sense of urgency.

When you’re stranded at an airport, trying to get to a family event, or preparing for a conference the next morning, you’re not necessarily thinking about whether a search result is sponsored or the website address contains an extra word.

You’re thinking about getting the issue resolved.

That’s exactly why scammers use familiar company names, logos and customer-service language. They don’t need an elaborate story when a traveler is already dealing with a real problem.

For employees travelling for work, the consequences can extend beyond a personal financial loss. A scammer may obtain corporate-card details, travel dates, booking references, work email addresses or other information that can be used in later targeted scams.

Red flags to watch for

No single sign proves that a travel website or customer-support number is fake. But these warning signs should make you stop and take another look:

• The result is labelled “Sponsored” or “Ad,” especially when you are looking for support
• The web address contains a misspelling, extra words or an unfamiliar domain
• The person on the phone pressures you to act immediately
• You are asked to pay with cryptocurrency, a gift card, wire transfer or a payment app only
• Someone asks for a code sent by your bank or by the real travel provider
• The person tells you not to contact the airline, hotel or booking platform directly
• The deal, refund or upgrade sounds unusually generous, but only if you decide now

A legitimate provider may ask for a booking reference or charge a genuine change fee. But you should never let yourself be pressured into sharing sensitive information before confirming that you’re dealing with the real company.

What to do instead

When you need help with a booking, don’t rely on the first result in a search engine only.

Open the official airline, hotel, car-rental or booking app. Type the company’s web address directly into your browser. Use the contact details in a booking confirmation you already know is genuine.

If you’re traveling for work, use your employer’s approved booking channel or contact the person responsible for travel arrangements. It may take an extra minute, but it is much safer than calling an unverified number found online.

Pay by credit card when possible, as it may offer more options for disputing unauthorized charges. Before booking through an unfamiliar travel website, search for the company name alongside words such as “review,” “complaint” or “scam.”

And if a message, offer or customer-support claim doesn’t feel right, pause before you act. You can use Bitdefender Scamio to check suspicious messages and claims, and Bitdefender Link Checker before opening an unfamiliar travel-related link.

 And, since most travel plans now live on our phones, a mobile security solution with scam protection can add another layer of support while you are on the move, helping flag suspicious links, messages, calls and scam attempts before they turn into a costly mistake. Bitdefender Mobile Security includes scam and malware protection features designed to help protect your identity and money whether at home or traveling.