Partnering with experts on tips to help avoid summer travel scams in U.S.

Key Takeaways

• Consumer research finds over 40% of Americans have fallen for an online scam, with losses averaging almost $2,000.
  
  
• About two-thirds of Americans say AI is making scams harder to detect, with deal-hunters and Gen Z appearing most likely to fall for an AI scam.
  
  
• Airbnb and the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI) team up on tips to help people find and book travel safely online.
  
  

Online travel scams—from fake booking sites and social media ads to phishing—are an increasingly common and costly concern for Americans. As travelers book summer trips, including for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ knockout rounds, Airbnb has partnered with the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI) to help educate travelers on the possible signs of online travel scams and how to avoid them wherever they book. New consumer research from Ipsos shows that around 4 in 10 Americans (42 percent) have fallen victim to an online scam, losing almost $2,000 on average, with 5 percent reporting losses exceeding $10,000.¹

The prevalence of AI-generated content risks making fraud even harder to detect, and nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of Americans believe AI-generated content is making scams more convincing and harder to spot. While younger adults expressed the most confidence in their ability to identify AI-generated content, confidence didn’t always translate into accuracy. Respondents aged 18–24 were, in fact, the least likely of any age group to correctly identify all AI-generated images in the study._²

The importance of awareness is particularly relevant as fans plan last-minute travel for FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches. Travelers planning to attend the tournament showed more willingness to take risks to try to save money, including using unfamiliar websites and less secure payment methods.³

The findings reinforce why booking through reputable platforms matters. Nearly half of Americans (46 percent) say being scammed is a primary concern when paying for accommodations online, and two-thirds (66 percent) are willing to pay more for booking protections. While many travelers may still take avoidable risks when booking online, the need and demand for reliable safeguards is strong.

Amid the rise in this issue across the wider web, Airbnb has invested heavily in tools to make its platform one travelers can trust, including for travel during major events like the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Among the steps we take, we verify booking guest and host identities, display reminders to stay on the platform to communicate, book, and pay on Airbnb; and offer booking and payment support. We hold onto guest payments for stays until 24 hours after check-in, so there’s time on arrival to check things are as described, and we include AirCover for guests with every booking to help in the rare event of an eligible issue during a stay.

Additionally, we deploy specialist teams and technology to help address potential risks of fraud. Last year, we introduced a feature that reminds users in message threads to keep payments and communication on Airbnb when external links are shared. This reminder cut user clicks on potentially risky links by more than 20 percent immediately following launch. Our anti-fraud technology assesses listings before they go live for risk signals. In 2025 alone, this helped to prevent around 265,000 potentially suspicious listings from appearing on Airbnb. We also take down third-party phishing websites that attempt to impersonate Airbnb, making it harder for scammers to try to mislead travelers online.

To help travelers book summer trips and FIFA World Cup 2026™ travel with confidence, Airbnb has partnered with the IAFCI to share tips for booking online and on Airbnb.

Roger Kaiser, Vice President of Airbnb Fraud and Safety Operations, said, [i]“Last year, Airbnb’s anti-fraud systems blocked over 250,000 suspicious listings before they went live and cut clicks on risky links by more than 20% following a new feature launch. However, scammers don’t limit themselves to one platform and neither can the response. Teaming up with the IAFCI means travelers get practical, expert-backed guidance whether they’re on Airbnb or booking anywhere else online.”[/i]

John Sabatino, International 1st Vice President at IAFCI, said, “Think before you click! Scammers count on you acting fast and emotionally. If it feels wrong or sounds too good to be true, stop and talk to someone you trust first. The last thing scammers want you to do is talk about it.”

1. Stick to trusted platforms and stay on them: Book, pay, and communicate through reputable platforms with built-in protections. On Airbnb, every reservation includes AirCover for guests. If anyone asks a guest to move off-platform, they should treat it as a red flag and report it–booking offsite means losing those protections and possibly their money.
   
   
2. Read reviews and ask questions: Read past traveler reviews and the accommodation description before booking. If anything seems unclear, message the property host– and on Airbnb, do this directly through in-platform messaging.
   
   
3. Check where they click and pay: Treat unexpected links in emails, texts, or social media messages with caution, and hover over any link to preview where it leads before clicking. Before entering payment details, guests should confirm they’re on the official app or website–look for misspellings in a web address, and if in doubt, type the site directly into your browser.
   
   
4. Pay by credit card: Be cautious and if asked to pay via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards, stop. Credit cards typically offer stronger consumer protections and easier dispute resolution. Airbnb also holds onto guest payment until 24 hours after check-in, giving guests time to be confident things are as described.
   
   
5. Question unusual deals: If a price is far cheaper than comparable options, be cautious. Scammers can use attractive prices to convince travelers to book. Always compare deals against similar options, and if it seems too good to be true, it likely is.
   
   
6. Look out for pressure tactics: Countdown timers, “only one left” alerts, and urgent payment demands are designed to rush travelers into a decision. Take your time, especially when searching in popular destinations, like FIFA World Cup 2026™ host cities, where high demand can make these tactics more common.
   
   
7. Protect their account: Use a unique password of at least 12 characters for each online account, and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible, including when using Airbnb. Together, these steps help make it harder for scammers to try to access accounts. If guests receive a suspicious login alert, they should act immediately to protect their information and change their password.
   
   
8. Be wary of unexpected calls: Fraudsters can impersonate support agents, banks, and travel companies to extract passwords or payment details. If travelers receive an unexpected call about a booking, they should hang up and contact the company directly using details on its official website.
   
   

For additional safety tips or to learn more about booking securely, visit the Airbnb Help Center.

Read more about: Trust

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