eFinder

eFinder

Home › Consumer Protection › Article

Exclusive | Travel scams target 1 in 3 tourists — avoid these 7 hoaxes as summer season kicks off

Nypost · · 1372 words · By Allison Lax
Consumer Protection Cybersecurity Travel Safety
open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/20/lifestyle/travel-scams-attack-1-in-3-tourists-avoi…

psychologyDetected Techniques

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
warning
Appeal to Fear 70% confidence
Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

9 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

info Single Source 7
help Insufficient Evidence 2
info
“According to new research by McAfee, over one in three Americans have come across a travel-related cyberthreat”
SINGLE SOURCE
The claim is directly supported by the McAfee Blog. However, the other web results provided are irrelevant (CDC health tips and gaming reports), meaning there is only one independent source confirming this specific statistic.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — New McAfee research shows that more than 1 in 3 Americans have encountered a travel-related cyberthreat, and 41% of those impacted lost money, often exceeding $500.
https://www.mcafee.com/blogs/internet-security/travel-bookin…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Part 1 of gaming-related cyberthreat report.Mobile games especially draw ever more users. Analysts predict that mobile gaming will account for $90.7 billion to $120 billion of the revenue in 2021, whi…
https://securelist.com/game-related-cyberthreats/103675/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Official U.S. government health recommendations for traveling. Provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Traveler looking out over city. Before you go. Get tips on preparin…
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
info
“41% of those who’ve engaged with the hoax having lost money, often topping $500”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific statistic (41% losing money, often exceeding $500) is found only in the McAfee Blog. Other provided evidence discusses gaming threats in Southeast Asia and is irrelevant to this claim.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — New McAfee research shows that more than 1 in 3 Americans have encountered a travel-related cyberthreat, and 41% of those impacted lost money, often exceeding $500.
https://www.mcafee.com/blogs/internet-security/travel-bookin…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Amongst SEA countries, Vietnam saw the sharpest increase at 202.5%, followed by Thailand at 104.4% with Malaysia just behind Singapore at 21.3%. Indonesia was the only market with a decline in these c…
https://sbr.com.sg/information-technology/news/gaming-relate…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Among these gaming-related cyberthreats, some of the most targeted titles include Minecraft and Roblox, as the highly customisable nature of these games presents as ideal attack vectors for cybercrimi…
https://biztechtimes.com.my/2026/04/10/gaming-related-cybert…
info
“Fake travel deals or promotions (15%)”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general McAfee product descriptions and a LinkedIn profile; none of these sources mention the 15% statistic regarding fake travel deals.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Identity monitoring and alerts. Unlimited device* protection, along with our core security features including McAfee Scam Protection for up to 6 family members. Scans-only Personal Data Cleanup and sc…
https://www.mcafee.com/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — McAfee Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Endpoint helps to safeguard intellectual property and ensure compliance, and this playlist will help you learn a number of the different things it can do for you.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhrTdqg8EHm7mzPRAO6RQ…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — McAfee | 336,314 followers on LinkedIn. We’re creating what’s next in online protection. As technologists, creatives, and people who thrive on looking forward, we make life online safe, so everyone ca…
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mcafee
help
“Scam booking confirmations or updates (15%)”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching for this specific claim.
info
“Manipulated accommodation listings or photos (15%)”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence includes general McAfee marketing and a generic AI photo editor tool, but no data confirming the 15% statistic for manipulated accommodation listings.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Identity monitoring and alerts. Unlimited device* protection, along with our core security features including McAfee Scam Protection for up to 6 family members. Scans-only Personal Data Cleanup and sc…
https://www.mcafee.com/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — McAfee | 336,314 followers on LinkedIn. We’re creating what’s next in online protection. As technologists, creatives, and people who thrive on looking forward, we make life online safe, so everyone ca…
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mcafee
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Replace photo backgrounds instantly — upload a new background image or describe it in text. Perfect for product photography, portraits, and e-commerce listings that need a polished, consistent look.
https://ezenhancer.ai/photo-editor/
info
“Payment requests outside official platforms (11%)”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence provided consists of McAfee's Wikipedia page and general product descriptions. None of these sources provide the 11% statistic for payment requests outside official platforms.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The company was founded in 1987 as McAfee Associates, named for its founder John McAfee, who resigned from the company in 1994. [14] McAfee was incorporated in the state of Delaware in 1992.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McAfee
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Scams don't take vacations. Neither do we. All McAfee plans include automatic alerts for text, email, and video scams, plus on-demand QR code scans.
https://www.mcafee.com/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Online, it can be hard to tell what's real, so we make it easy: McAfee gives you protection against scam texts, emails, and videos. Available with McAfee+, McAfee LiveSafe, and McAfee Total...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wsandroid.…
info
“Fake vacation rental listings (10%)”
SINGLE SOURCE
While one source mentions that vacation rental scams are a risk and can involve $500 losses, there is no evidence in the provided results to support the specific 10% statistic attributed to McAfee research.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — McAfee+ Ultimate Individual. Our most complete device, identity theft, and online privacy protection, including a call with a McAfee expert to help get you set up. Antivirus (unlimited devices*). Pers…
https://www.mcafee.com/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The biggest red flag that a listing is a scam is when you are asked to leave a listing platform such as Vrbo or Airbnb in order to provide a payment, Couch-Friedman said. A fake real estate owner will…
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/24/that-vacation-rental-listing…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Phony vacation booking websites pose as Airbnb and solicit unknowing travelers to make reservations, only to steal their money and personal information.A "For Rent" sign. Beware Red Flags of Apartment…
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/airbnb-fake-websites/
info
“Fake airline or hotel websites (9%)”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence contains general company history and product features, but does not mention the 9% statistic for fake airline or hotel websites.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The company was founded in 1987 as McAfee Associates, named for its founder John McAfee, who resigned from the company in 1994. [14] McAfee was incorporated in the state of Delaware in 1992.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McAfee
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Scams don't take vacations. Neither do we. All McAfee plans include automatic alerts for text, email, and video scams, plus on-demand QR code scans.
https://www.mcafee.com/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Online, it can be hard to tell what's real, so we make it easy: McAfee gives you protection against scam texts, emails, and videos. Available with McAfee+, McAfee LiveSafe, and McAfee Total...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wsandroid.…
help
“Customer service impersonation (9%)”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching for this specific claim.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.