Florida residents are losing nearly $20.4 million a year to vacation scams, with the average reported loss reaching $764 and the state ranking seventh nationally for travel fraud. The schemes often begin with a bargain-looking booking site or online ad and end with no reservation, no rental and a much lighter bank account.
The figures were highlighted by WPTV in a report published Friday, as summer travel continues and Floridians plan late-season getaways. Fake travel websites and online advertisements are identified as the leading sources of vacation scams affecting people in the state.
A July 12 analysis from Locals Insider found that reported travel fraud losses nationwide nearly tripled, rising from about $99 million in 2021 to $297 million in 2025. The analysis used Federal Trade Commission data and compared total losses, average losses per report, year-over-year changes and losses per 100,000 residents.
Fake Booking Deals Are Doing The Damage
The scams can take several forms, including cloned airline or hotel websites, phishing messages, fraudulent vacation rentals and ads offering luxury trips at prices that are difficult to believe. The Federal Trade Commission says fake travel sites may request personal information, upfront fees or payment through methods that are difficult to reverse.
Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services warns that some sellers promote free cruises or luxury vacations while demanding taxes or fees, while other operators use high-pressure timeshare pitches or fake rental listings. The department says Florida consumers can check whether a travel seller is registered with the state before paying.
What Florida Travelers Should Check Before Paying
The FTC advises travelers to research the company name alongside terms such as scam, review or complaint and to type a trusted airline or hotel address directly into a browser instead of clicking an unexpected message. A request to pay by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency is another major warning sign, according to the agency’s consumer guidance.
For vacation rentals, Florida officials recommend staying on the original booking platform, checking whether property photos appear in multiple listings and using a credit card when possible. The state also advises consumers to review cancellation terms and verify that the property and rental company actually exist before sending a deposit.
The growing fraud problem is changing how Americans book trips, too. The Locals Insider survey found that 41% of respondents had changed their booking habits because of scam concerns, while 60% said artificial intelligence has made it harder to determine what is real online.
That caution could matter as travelers keep searching for summer and Labor Day deals. A discount that disappears after a few clicks may be annoying, but a fake booking can turn an anticipated vacation into an expensive scramble for a place to sleep.
