With the arrival of the peak season between the end and beginning of the year, the security risks to travelers increase. A recent survey conducted byNorton, cybersecurity brand ofGen™, revealed that four out of five (83%) Brazilians were targeted by a scam when booking a trip for the holidays. In total, 8% of the Brazilians interviewed reported having detected this type of scam at some point.
Among the most common types of scams are: false discounts and travel offers (41%); fake travel agencies (33%); fraudulent booking websites (29%); malvertising (14%); and phishing (11%). The economic impact is also significant: 90% of the victims reported losing money. The average loss per victim was R$ 2,375.98, with the highest recorded at R$ 25,000.00.
The risks do not end upon reaching the destination. During the trip, 8% of respondents who fell for scams when booking vacation trips faced issues such as: compromise of 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 that worsens these risks is the excessive and careless use of social media during the holidays. According to the survey, 6 out of 10 respondents (60%) shared too much information on social media during the holidays. Specifically, 37% posted photos of their travel destinations and 32% tagged other people in holiday posts without asking for permission. Similarly, 3 out of 10 (31%) marked their current location, 20% revealed their travel plans on social media, and 14% posted a photo of their passage (plane, train, or bus) without removing any personal information—such as name, date of birth, among others.
Iskander Sanchez-Rola, Norton’s Director of Innovation, recommends that travelers take precautions to avoid scams during peak seasons. Among the expert's tips are
- Verify the authenticity of offers, services and sellersbefore carrying out transactions.
- Share vacation experiences on social media only after your trip and avoid posting information in real time.
- Do not share personal dataof travel documents.
- Use a VPNto protect yourself when using public Wi-Fi networks.
With these safety measures, Norton seeks to raise awareness among users about the risks associated with traveling during peak seasons, encouraging responsible practices to enjoy a safe vacation.
Methodology
The study was conducted online in Brazil by Dynata on behalf of Gen, between September 2 and 11, 2024, with 1,000 adults over the age of 18.
