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

Nypost · May 20, 2026 · 1372 words · By Allison Lax

Consumer Protection Cybersecurity Travel Safety

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What to know about Consumer Protection

Travel scams target 1 in 3 tourists — avoid these 7 hoaxes as summer season kicks off See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 9

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center75%

Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Travel scams target 1 in 3 tourists — avoid these 7 hoaxes as summer season kicks off See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on GoogleBefore slamming that laptop shut and slipping on your Hawaiian shirt for a well-deserved summer vacation, it’s important to keep an eye out for pesky travel scams while planning your next trip.

Common ground

According to new research by McAfee, over one in three Americans have come across a travel-related cyberthreat, with 41% of those who’ve engaged with the hoax having lost money, often topping $500.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Appeal to Fear: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Consumer Protection story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Payment requests outside official platforms (11%)?
How does this story connect Consumer Protection with Cybersecurity over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/20/lifestyle/travel-scams-attack-1-in-3-tourists-avoi…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Appeal to Fear 70% confidence

Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to fear helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 9 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 7

help Insufficient Evidence 2

info

Claim 1: “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.…

help

Claim 2: “Scam booking confirmations or updates (15%)”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for this specific claim.

info

Claim 3: “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

Claim 4: “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

Claim 5: “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 — 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

help

Claim 6: “Customer service impersonation (9%)”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for this specific claim.

info

Claim 7: “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

Claim 8: “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 — 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

Claim 9: “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 — 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

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.