Summer is prime time for travel-related scams.
By now, you may have heard about toll-road payment scams: You receive a text or e-mail that seems to be from a legitimate toll-payment company, such as E-ZPass in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, FasTrak in California or I-PASS in Illinois.
The sender's number may be spoofed, and the text will include a link that asks you to pay the toll immediately or verify your information. It may seem like an obvious scam, unless you recently traveled on the road mentioned in the text.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
If you fall for one of these schemes and provide your payment information, the scammers may use your credit or debit card number to make purchases.
Never click on a link in a text or e-mail claiming to be from a toll-road operator. Instead, go to the operator's website and log in to your account, or call the company to verify whether you owe money.
Vacation rental scams
Also beware of other travel scams. On vacation-rental websites, keep an eye out for fake listings, in which a fraudster advertises a rental that doesn’t exist and collects money before you arrive.
Teresa Murray, consumer watchdog director for the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), recommends looking up the address on Google Maps and using the Street View feature to see whether the property matches what’s shown in the listing.
Airline scams
If you need to call an airline's customer service department, make sure you have the right number.
After a storm disrupted travel last summer, some people whose flights were canceled or delayed looked up their airlines' phone numbers with a web search, which turned up fake numbers on the results page.
When customers called the fraudulent numbers, scammers told them they could get on another flight for, say, $17 more and asked them to provide their payment information, Murray says.
People didn't realize they were giving their credit card numbers to thieves.
Rather than call a number that shows up at the top of online search results, get the number through the airline's app or go directly to its website, Murray says.
Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly, trustworthy source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make here.
Related content
-
How to Plan a Microvacation That Actually Feels RestfulHow a simple long weekend can boost your mood, reduce stress and make winter feel shorter.
-
We're retired and fight more than ever. Should we take a break?Can taking a break save a marriage? We asked professional relationship therapists for advice.
-
Turning 59½: 5 Planning Moves Most Pre-Retirees OverlookAge 59½ isn't just when you can access your retirement savings tax-free. It also signals the start of retirement planning opportunities you shouldn't miss.
-
What to Watch for When Refinancing Your Home MortgageA smart refinance can save you thousands, but only if you know how to avoid costly pitfalls, calculate true savings and choose the right loan for your goals.
-
The 10 Best Splurge Destinations for Retirees in 2026Come for the luxury vacation. Retire for the lifestyle (if the vacay goes well). What better way to test a location for retiring abroad?
-
Builders Are Offering Big Mortgage Incentives — What Homebuyers Should Watch ForBuilder credits and below-market mortgage rates can ease affordability pressures, but the savings often come with trade-offs buyers should understand before signing.
-
My First $1 Million: US Government Worker, 47, OverseasEver wonder how someone who's made a million dollars or more did it? Kiplinger's My First $1 Million series uncovers the answers.
-
What Changed on January 1: Check Out These Opportunities Created by the New Tax LawA deep dive into the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) reveals key opportunities in 2026 and beyond.
-
Beat the Money Blues With This Easy Financial Check-In to Get 2026 Off to a Good StartAs 2026 takes off, half of Americans are worried about the cost of everyday goods. A simple budget can help you beat the money blues and reach long-term goals.
-
Do Self-Storage REITs Deserve Space in Your Portfolio? It's a Yes From This Investment AdviserSelf-storage is an overlooked area of the real estate market, even though demand is strong. Investors can get in on the action through a REIT.
-
Is Home Insurance Tax Deductible?With home insurance rates on the rise, you might be hoping to at least claim the cost as a tax deduction. Here's what you need to know ahead of tax season.
