As summer travel plans unfold, new research by McAfee highlights the rising threat of travel-related scams in India. These scams, often powered by technology and clever deception, are leaving travelers financially and emotionally strained.
According to McAfee’s ‘India Safer Summer Travel Research’, nearly 1 in 4 Indians (47%) have fallen victim to a travel scam, despite 86% researching scams before booking their trips.
Fake deals on airfare, accommodations, and excursions lure travelers to fraudulent websites, where over 53% end up losing money. Alarmingly, 1 in 5 victims lost more than ₹40,000.
Sporting events like the IPL are also fertile ground for scams. 82% of fans are worried about ticket fraud. Among 25–34-year-olds, 57% attend these events, with many unaware of how to spot online booking scams.
Among the worst-hit are younger travelers. 31% clicked on malicious links, while 25% were duped by altered travel photos—amplifying their risk of being targeted.
Real experiences include deposits paid for non-existent accommodations or events, stolen IDs leading to identity theft, and compromised bank accounts from fake QR codes.
The excitement of vacation deals is pushing people to chase cheap flights (39%), stays (46%), and excursions (40%), often leading them into well-crafted traps.
Common tactics include fake confirmation links, fraudulent websites, and non-existent travel agents.
To stay safe, McAfee urges travelers to use secure payment platforms, avoid suspicious links, and adopt tools like McAfee+ and Deepfake Detector for smarter protection.
“Verify before you trust” is McAfee’s advice—so your dream holiday doesn’t become a nightmare.
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