Travelers are being cautioned about a sharp increase in travel scams, potentially driven by artificial intelligence (AI). Booking.com, a major online travel booking platform, reports a staggering surge of between 500% and 900% in scam attempts over the past year and a half.

Marnie Wilking, Booking.com’s internet safety chief, attributes this rise partly to the emergence of powerful AI tools like ChatGPT. These tools, capable of generating realistic and persuasive text, are being exploited by scammers to create highly believable phishing emails. Phishing scams aim to trick recipients into revealing personal information, often financial details.

“Phishing attacks have been around for a long time,” says Wilking, “but the quality has significantly improved since AI entered the scene. Scammers are using AI to craft emails that mimic legitimate booking confirmations or travel website correspondence much more effectively.”

These deceptive emails often contain links that, when clicked, lead to fake booking websites designed to steal credit card information or other sensitive data. Phishing emails frequently target popular travel platforms like Booking.com and Airbnb because they allow individual property listings.

Traditionally, spotting a scam involved looking for red flags like grammatical errors or suspicious website addresses. However, Wilking emphasizes that AI is making these scams more sophisticated, with the ability to generate grammatically correct text and even realistic images in various languages.

Combating Travel Scams

To combat this rise in AI-powered scams, Wilking recommends travelers and hotels alike adopt two-factor authentication. This security measure adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a secondary code, typically sent to a user’s phone, to verify login attempts. “Two-factor authentication is one of the most effective ways to fight phishing and credential theft,” advises Wilking.

Travelers are also urged to exercise increased caution when clicking on links in emails, even those seemingly from familiar travel companies.

Here are some additional tips to tackle AI-Fueled Scams from consumer expert Jane Hawkes

• Verify contact details: Legitimate travel websites should have readily available contact information, including a phone number. Many scam sites deliberately omit phone numbers.
• Consider package holidays: Booking a package holiday that bundles flights and accommodation together can offer greater protection compared to booking them separately.
• Use a credit card: Paying with a credit card often provides additional purchase protection compared to debit cards.

By following these steps and remaining vigilant, travelers can minimize the risk of falling victim to these evolving travel scams.