1 in 4 Indians (47%) Fall Victim to Travel Scams, Finds McAfee’s ‘India Safer Summer Travel Research’

McAfee research reveals how scammers trick holidaymakers with lucrative deals and malicious links

Key Highlights:

Over ₹40,000 was lost by nearly 1 in 5 Indians who fell for a travel scam while on holiday.
82% of Indians traveling for major sporting events such as IPL are concerned about ticket scams.
The most convincing scams may involve too-good-to-be-true deals, including malicious confirmation or booking links—which can expose sensitive personal and financial information—as well as manipulated photos, invalid bookings, stolen QR codes, and compromised bank account details.

India, April 09, 2025— Today, McAfee released the findings of its ‘India Safer Summer Travel Research’ revealing how Indian holidaymakers are not only cutting back on spending but struggling to spot scams, creating a perfect storm for cybercrooks. As Indians hunt for bargains ahead of their summer holidays, many struggle to tell real from fake – whether it’s a deal, a booking or a travel confirmation – leaving them vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated scammers looking to cash in.

The findings reveal that while 86% of Indians research common travel scams before booking, nearly half (47%) have fallen victim. The allure of bargain deals on airfare, accommodation, and cheap excursions often entice travelers to fake payment sites and invalid bookings. These scams have a significant impact, as over half (53%) of Indian travelers who experienced them lost money, with nearly 1 in 5 losing over ₹40,000. Younger holidaymakers aged 25-34 are the most at risk, with 31% clicking on malicious confirmation links and 25% deceived by manipulated travel photos.

Sport Enthusiasts vs Scammers

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season captivates fans nationwide, a surge in ticket bookings and holiday plans reflects the eagerness to experience live matches firsthand. This enthusiasm is particularly seen among 25-34-year-olds, who dominate attendance at such sporting events with a 57% participation rate, closely followed by 35-44-year-olds at 56%.

82% of people express concern about ticket scams and other online scams related to major sporting events, domestic and international. Of those, 60% of them plan to exercise extra caution when making online purchases, while 23% remain unsure about how to effectively avoid these scams.

Sunburns or Cyber Threats

As the wanderlust of Indian travelers growsi, more than 1 in 2 Indians (51%) report they or someone they know has fallen victim to a travel scam while on holiday.

21% provided a deposit on rental/accommodation that turned out not to exist upon arrival, where they were not listed as registered.
18% provided a deposit for an event or excursion, and the provider never showed up.
18% provided a deposit or prepaid for an excursion, and it was nothing like what was marketed.
12% had their passport or ID stolen, which led to identity theft.
11% had their bank account information compromised.
10% had a boarding pass QR code stolen.
9% had their passport or ID stolen while on vacation.

Amidst the excitement of travel planning, many Indians are actively seeking out deals, on accommodation (46%), airfare (39%) and excursions (40%). People's eagerness to secure the best prices online may make them more susceptible to travel scams. Among the most common scams while booking travel:

22% clicked on a confirmation link from an unknown source that turned out to be a scam and/or malicious.
19% provided their credit card/bank card details on a fake site, which was then used for fraudulent payments.
18% encountered manipulated photos of their holiday destination.
16% were tricked into booking accommodation or trips that didn’t exist.
10% spoke with someone to plan their trip who didn’t exist.

"With the peak summer travel season underway, there is a critical need for increased vigilance against travel scams due to the combination of people eagerly seeking budget-friendly options and the rising sophistication of fraudulent activities," said Pratim Mukherjee, Senior Director of Engineering at McAfee. "With more than half of Indian holidaymakers or their acquaintances having experienced scams, it's essential for everyone to verify sources, use secure payment methods, and be wary of deals that seem too-good-to-be-true to safeguard their dream vacations from becoming bad experiences.”

These findings are a reminder to stay alert when booking holidays and making payments online - so your desired trip doesn’t turn into an expensive mishap. Protect yourself from travel scams by following these key tips:

Before You Travel: 

Watch for Scams – Scam emails and text messages, and fake travel deals, can lead to scammers having access to sensitive personal or financial information. Avoid clicking unknown links or sharing personal details.
Check Rental Listings – Do a reverse image search to spot fake listings. Read reviews and book through known, trusted platforms.
Invest in holistic online protection like McAfee+ – Use products that provide maximum identity, privacy, and device protection. Help keep yourself and your family safe online with protection that detects and protects against suspicious links and sites so you can browse online with greater confidence. For those with a supported device, take advantage of McAfee Deepfake Detector to be alerted when a video you’re watching is AI-generated or manipulated.

While On Holiday: 

Verify Before You Trust — Scammers may pose as hotel staff or tour guides. Double-check identities before sharing info or valuables. 
Stay Secure Online — Public Wi-Fi can expose your data. Use a VPN to browse safely. 
Be Cautious with QR Codes — Fake QR codes can lead to scam sites. Use online security software that flags suspicious links. 
Think Before You Post — Sharing your location in real-time can attract scammers at home or on holiday. Post updates after your trip instead.

For more information about how to better protect yourself online and learn about McAfee’s products and services, visit www.mcafee.com  

Research Methodology 

A McAfee survey, which focused on the topic of travel scams and the impact of these scams on consumers, was conducted online in February 2025. 7,000+ adults in the US, UK, France, Germany, India, Japan, and Australia, age 18+, participated in the study. 

About McAfee  

McAfee Corp. is a global leader in online protection for consumers. Focused on safeguarding people in an always-online world, McAfee’s solutions adapt to user needs, empowering individuals and families with secure, intuitive tools. For more information, visit www.mcafee.com.  