Travel scams are growing more advanced, with fraudsters using artificial intelligence to create fake websites and misuse stolen data, according to Florent Silve of Engine, a corporate travel management platform. A recent report by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that Americans lost $3.5 billion to scams in 2023, with almost one-third of fraud reports involving impostor scams. These scams can begin even before a trip starts, with criminals impersonating hotels or airlines to trick travelers. Iskander Sanchez-Rola, a scam expert at Norton, explains that the most dangerous scams now look legitimate rather than suspicious. One common tactic is "reservation hijacking," where scammers send emails or texts pretending to be a hotel, claiming a payment failed and urging immediate action. These messages often include real details, like reservation dates or costs, to appear credible. Sanchez-Rola advises travelers not to click on links in such messages and instead to contact the hotel directly using its official website. Another popular scam involves fake flight cancellations. Scammers may contact travelers with urgent messages about canceled or delayed flights, then offer to help rebook for an extra fee. Sanchez-Rola recommends checking flight status directly through the airline’s official website or app, and avoiding clicking on any links sent via text or email. Experts also warn against sharing photos of travel documents on social media. QR codes or barcodes on tickets may contain more information than expected, such as details about return flights. Alissa Abdullah of Mastercard notes that scammers can overlay fake QR codes on legitimate ones, directing travelers to fraudulent payment systems. If a payment page seems suspicious or a sticker is on top of a QR code, Abdullah suggests contacting staff and using alternative payment methods like cash or credit cards instead. Additionally, public Wi-Fi networks can be risky, as cybercriminals may create fake networks that mimic real ones. Brian Cute of the Global Cyber Alliance advises using public Wi-Fi only for basic tasks, such as finding directions, and avoiding sensitive activities like checking bank accounts or emails.