With the arrival of the high season between the end and beginning of the year, security risks for travelers increase. A recent survey conducted by Norton, a cybersecurity brand of Gen™, revealed that four out of five (83%) Brazilians have been targeted by a scam when booking a vacation trip. In total, 8% of Brazilian respondents reported having detected this type of scam at some point.
Among the most common types of scams are: fake travel discounts and offers (41%); fake travel agencies (33%); fraudulent booking websites (29%); malvertising (14%); and phishing (11%). The economic impact is also significant: 90% of victims reported losing money. The average loss among victims was R$2,375.98, with the highest reported loss being R$25,000.00.
The risks don’t end upon arrival. During the trip, 8% of respondents who fell for scams when booking vacations faced issues such as: compromised credit card or banking information (37%); car rental scams (29%); scams on platforms like Airbnb and hotels (27%); and inadequate accommodations (17%). Additionally, 14% had their devices hacked or compromised on public Wi-Fi networks.
Another factor exacerbating these risks is the excessive and careless use of social media during vacations. According to the survey, 6 in 10 respondents (60%) overshared information on social media during their vacations. Specifically, 37% posted photos of their travel destinations, and 32% tagged others in vacation posts without permission. Similarly, 3 in 10 (31%) shared their current location, 20% revealed their travel plans on social media, and 14% posted photos of their tickets (plane, train, or bus) without removing personal information—such as their name, date of birth, and other details.
Iskander Sanchez-Rola, Director of Innovation at Norton, recommends that travelers take precautions to avoid falling for scams during peak seasons. Among the expert’s tips are:
- Verify the authenticity of offers, services, and sellers before making transactions.
- Share vacation experiences on social media only after the trip and avoid posting information in real time.
- Do not share personal data from travel documents.
- Use a VPN to protect yourself when using public Wi-Fi networks.
With these security measures, Norton aims to raise awareness among users about the risks associated with travel during peak seasons, encouraging responsible practices to enjoy vacations safely.
Methodology
The study was conducted online in Brazil by Dynata on behalf of Gen, between September 2 and 11, 2024, with 1,000 adults aged 18 and older.
