Summer’s in full swing and the scams that accompany the busy traveling months are in full force, too.

Schemes include artificial intelligence booking confirmations, fake rental listings, and look-alike brand websites. Criminals lure distracted travelers with steep, below-market discounts or high-pressure texts and calls claiming flight changes require immediate, unverified payments. 

• Rentals: Scammers hijack or clone legitimate listings on platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo, then demand payment via wire transfer or peer-to-peer apps.
• Look-alike sites: These impersonate customer service agents or create copycat travel agency web pages. 
• On-the-road traps: This involves fake food delivery menus appearing under hotel room doors or agents acting as the front desk to verify credit card details.

Ways to protect yourself:

• Verify everything: Never click on links in unverified texts about flight cancellations or hotel updates. Instead, open official apps or navigate directly to their sites.
• Use Visa® from America First: Always pay for bookings with a credit card instead of wire transfers or apps for better fraud protection and dispute resolution. 
• Protect devices: Avoid using public USB charging ports at airports. Turn off Wi-Fi auto-connect in public. 

If you receive unsolicited messages about account status, pending amounts due, or other related issues, don't engage—contact us directly at 1-800-999-3961 and forward them to phishing@americafirst.com.

Staying informed and alert is one of the best defenses, so be sure to visit americafirst.com/about/security for news and updates.