The world of travel is dynamic, exhilarating, and—unfortunately—an attractive target for increasingly sophisticated criminals. As a travel professional, you’re not just selling dreams; you’re safeguarding your clients’ investments and their trust.
That’s why fraud is no longer something you can afford to simply watch out for—it’s something you must actively defend against. Today’s scams are evolving fast, from AI-powered phishing to elaborate booking schemes, putting both your finances and reputation at risk.
To help you strengthen your defenses, we’re sharing expert insights from certified alumnus Richard P. Hardie II, CTA, CCC, CATA, owner of R. P. Hardie Cruise & Travel, and a Travel Institute Professional Educators Program (PEP) member. Richard’s practical tips will equip you with strategies to move from cautious observer to proactive defender—fortifying your business and protecting your clients’ peace of mind.
If you’re looking for even more tools and streamlined resources to thrive, don’t forget to explore the NEW Education Hub, your one-stop shop for professional travel education.
Here are Richard’s top tips to guard against modern fraud:
Know Your Enemy: Top Fraud Tactics
Criminals use several key tactics you should be aware of:
- Credential Theft Highly convincing phishing emails impersonate airlines or associations like ARC, tricking you into revealing GDS login details on fake portals. Once compromised, fraudsters can issue fraudulent tickets, often over a weekend to delay detection.
- Fraudulent Bookings Scammers use stolen credit cards for urgent, high-value bookings, like last-minute first-class tickets to high-risk destinations. When the real cardholder disputes the charge, you’re left with the chargeback.
- Social Engineering Be wary of false leads. Prospects might engage you with vague travel plans, but their real goal is reconnaissance, gathering details about your systems and procedures to launch a more targeted attack later.
- Payment Redirection By compromising an email account, fraudsters can intercept a payment conversation and send your client new wiring instructions, diverting funds directly to their own account.
Your First Alert: Spotting the Red Flags
Trust your instincts and watch for these warning signs:
- Extreme urgency for last-minute, expensive bookings.
- A new client who is unconcerned with price or details but anxious about the payment process.
- Suspicious contact information, like a generic email (Gmail, Yahoo) for a supposed corporate booking or a disposable VoIP phone number.
- Pressure to use untraceable payment methods like wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
- Unsolicited emails with urgent calls to action, generic greetings, or links that don’t match the sender’s domain.
Your Proactive Defense Plan: Key Action Steps
Implement these essential safeguards in your daily workflow today:
- Verify Every Time. For new or suspicious clients, establish a verification protocol. Always get a signed credit card authorization form. For high-risk bookings, request photos of the credit card and a matching government ID, then call the bank to confirm the cardholder. Only effective for video and in person consultations.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). This is your single most effective defense. Enable 2FA on all critical accounts, especially email and GDS systems, to prevent unauthorized access even if your password is stolen.
- Secure Your Communications. Never send sensitive data like your agency’s wiring instructions via standard email. Use an encrypted service or provide them verbally over the phone to a trusted number. The best method is to collect payment authorizations via electronic invoices with deeply encrypted links.
- Stay Educated. Fraud tactics change constantly. Leverage resources from professional organizations like The Travel Institute and other industry credentialing organizations, which offer specific training on fraud protection.
Staying vigilant protects your business, your reputation, and your clients. Make these security checks a core part of your daily workflow.
Thank you, Richard! For access to more of the most valuable, timely, and applicable content by the best in the industry, check out our brand-new Education Hub.
