High riskTravel

Fake Travel Agency Scam

In this scam, a fake travel agency offers cheap flights, hotels, or packages, takes your payment, then provides fake confirmations or nothing at all, leaving you with no booking and no refund.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Fake service (travel agency)
Main red flag
A cheap travel agency taking payment by transfer with no verifiable credentials.
What to do first
Use accredited agencies and verify bookings directly with airlines and hotels.

How this scam works

In this scam, a fake travel agency offers cheap flights, hotels, or packages, takes your payment, then provides fake confirmations or nothing at all, leaving you with no booking and no refund.

Travel and holiday scams sell fake bookings, too-good-to-be-true deals, and bogus "official" services for visas, trusted-traveller programs, or compensation. They collect deposits and passport details, often through lookalike sites and sponsored ads.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: A cheap travel agency taking payment by transfer with no verifiable credentials. Use accredited agencies and verify bookings directly with airlines and hotels.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Holiday Package Scam and the Fake Flight Booking Scam. See the full Travel & Holiday Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • Prices well below other agencies
  • Payment by bank transfer or gift card
  • An agency with no accreditation or verifiable address
  • Fake or vague booking confirmations
  • Pressure to pay quickly to lock in prices

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Best prices on flights and hotels! Pay by bank transfer to confirm your booking today.'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What gives it away: A cheap travel agency taking payment by transfer with no verifiable credentials.

The scale of it

$10.3B
total reported US fraud losses in 2023 across all categories
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
Lookalike sites
a common travel-scam tactic, third-party sites posing as official services
Source: FTC Consumer Advice

How to protect yourself

  • Use accredited, verifiable travel agencies
  • Verify bookings directly with airlines and hotels
  • Pay by a method with protection where possible
  • Check the agency's credentials and reviews

Already responded? Do this now

  • If you paid, contact your bank or payment provider to try to recover it
  • Verify whether any booking actually exists with the providers
  • Keep confirmations and messages as evidence
  • Report the agency to authorities

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not pay travel agencies by transfer
  • Do not trust prices far below the market
  • Do not skip verifying bookings with the providers

Related scams to know

High risk Online Shopping

Holiday Package Scam

In this scam, a too-good-to-be-true all-inclusive holiday or travel package is advertised cheaply, then the seller takes a deposit or full payment by transfer and provides no booking, fake confirmations, or nothing at all.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Online Shopping

Fake Flight Booking Scam

Fake flight booking scams use lookalike travel sites or fake 'agents' to advertise unusually cheap flights. They take payment by bank transfer or card for a ticket that is never issued or is quietly cancelled, and often follow up with a fake 'your flight is cancelled, call to rebook' message designed to harvest card and passport details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Online Shopping

Hotel Booking Scam

Hotel booking scams use fake listings or phishing messages that pose as a booking platform or the hotel itself. They ask you to 'reconfirm' payment off-platform, pay a deposit by transfer, or update card details for a room that may not really be available. Some come from hacked hotel chat or email accounts, making the request look genuine.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Common questions

How do I check a travel agency is genuine?
Use accredited, verifiable agencies, check credentials and reviews, pay by a protected method, and confirm bookings directly with airlines and hotels.
Why is paying by transfer risky?
Transfers are hard to reverse. If the agency is fake, your money is gone with no booking. Protected payment methods offer recourse.
I paid and there's no booking. What now?
Contact your bank or payment provider to try to recover it, verify with the providers, keep evidence, and report the agency.
How can I confirm a booking is real?
Contact the airline and hotel directly with any reference numbers to confirm the reservation exists in your name.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.