Hotel and Accommodation Scams
June 1, 2026
As summer travel ramps up, so do sophisticated hotel and accommodation scams, with fraudsters creating convincing fake listings on trusted platforms or entire websites that appear legitimate. These scams prey on travelers’ excitement and emotional investment in planning the “perfect” getaway, often leading to financial losses and deeply disappointing experiences. The best way to avoid falling for hotel and accommodation scams is to learn how to recognize the red flags associated with them and to familiarize yourself with the action steps to take after discovering the scam.
Red Flags
- The price is significantly lower than what you have found elsewhere.
- You are asked to pay outside the platform via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, and there is no secure payment processing.
- There is not a clear cancellation policy.
- Limited photos are available of the property and/or the photos look too perfect to be real.
- The property reviews contain generic language or do not sound legitimate.
- You are unable to find contact information aside from the initial booking contact.
- The website has a recent domain registration date, does not include terms of service or privacy policies, has an unprofessional design, or contains broken links.
Action Steps After Discovering a Scam
- Check all financial statements for unauthorized charges.
- Change passwords for any accounts that may have been impacted.
- Document all communications, including listings, confirmation emails, dates, times, and payment receipts.
- Contact your credit card company or bank to report all fraudulent charges and to dispute the transactions.
- Report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
- Set up fraud alerts with the major credit bureaus and contact law enforcement if a significant amount of money is involved.