Be on the look out!
(I did not write this article)

Travel Troubleshooter
Randy Rupp thought he’d seen it all. A retired federal law enforcement agent with years of experience spotting fraud, he and his wife, Becki, were planning a hiking trip to Italy’s Dolomites. They’d booked their hotel in Bolzano months earlier through an online travel agency.

Then came the WhatsApp message that nearly got them. The message appeared to come from hotel staff and included specific details about their booking.

“It was very well written,” says Becki Rupp, a travel coach who’s helped countless clients navigate travel logistics. The scammer requested they reenter their credit card information through a provided link.

Fortunately, a technical glitch saved them from getting ensnared.

“The landing page for the confirmation wasn’t working,” she remembers. That technical hiccup prompted her to contact the hotel directly through its official website. And, as it turns out, there was no problem with their reservation.

A new age of travel fraud
The Rupps’ close call illustrates a disturbing trend: Artificial intelligence is making travel scams nearly impossible to detect.

Traditional red flags like poor grammar and obvious spelling mistakes have vanished, thanks to ChatGPT and Gemini. Today’s AI-powered scams feature flawless language, authentic-looking websites and sophisticated social engineering that can fool even the most experienced travelers.

How are scammers using AI to deceive you? This list is long.

Deepfake voice calls: Scammers now clone voices to impersonate airline representatives, hotel staff or even travel companions in distress. These calls often include real booking details stolen from data breaches.

“But the rhythm or timing of the voice is usually off a little, or sounds a little too perfect,” says Mike Engelhart, chief technology officer at iSeatz.

AI-generated phishing: Gone are the days of obvious phishing emails. AI now crafts messages with perfect grammar and authentic branding that mimic legitimate travel confirmations.
Fake booking sites: AI generates entire travel websites complete with stolen photos, fabricated reviews and cloned interfaces of legitimate platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com.

AI-manufactured reviews and content: Fraudsters use AI to generate fake travel reviews or create social media personas offering discounted trips. Travel pictures and videos generated and edited using AI are used to lure people into paying for travel packages or tours that don’t exist.

These red flags still work
Despite AI’s sophistication, experts say certain warning signs remain reliable.

Payment methods: Legitimate businesses don’t request payment via cryptocurrency, wire transfers, gift cards or peer-to-peer apps like Venmo or Zelle.

URL irregularities: Look for slight misspellings like “Booklng.com” instead of “Booking.com” or unusual domains ending in “.xyz” instead of “.com.”

Contact verification issues: If a “customer service” representative can’t verify basic booking details they should have access to, it’s likely a scam.