Nearly one-third of Australian travellers are willing to sacrifice online financial security when booking a holiday if it means they can save a significant amount of money, new research shows.
According to a study conducted by YouGov on behalf of Airbnb, Millennials and Gen X travellers are the most likely to admit they would take a risk to save money, even if a deal appeared to be too good to be true.
Reacting to the survey’s results, Airbnb has teamed up with the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI) to provide tips for booking travel safely online.
Tips include not clicking on links in unexpected emails and texts, being wary of cheap deals and pressure tactics, using a credit card to pay, checking reviews, keeping communication with private sellers on official platforms, and more.
IAFCI said online scams were becoming more sophisticated as AI technology improves, with fraudsters targeting young people with fake websites, texts, emails and social media messaging to trick people into thinking they are booking on a legitimate platform.
IAFCI International 1st Vice President, Missy Coyne, urged travellers not to let scammers get away with hard-earned money.
“When in doubt, talk it out – if what they are asking you to do doesn’t make sense or seems too good to be true, talk to a trusted friend or family member before acting on the request.”
