Travel and Timeshare Scams: Free Trips, Fake Rentals and Resale Offers

Travel scams take advantage of excitement and deadlines. They include “free” vacations that come with fees, vacation rentals that don’t exist, copycat sites that charge for free government services, and timeshare resale or exit offers that take money upfront. This guide covers each one and how to book safely. Checked October 25, 2026.

“You’ve won a free vacation”

If you have to pay fees or taxes to claim a free trip, it isn’t free. A legitimate company won’t charge you for a prize. Robocalls selling vacation deals are often illegal and usually a sign of a scam. See Sweepstakes and Prize Scams.

Vacation rental scams

• Scammers copy real listings or invent properties, then ask for a deposit outside the booking platform.
• Check whether the address appears under other owners or companies, and whether the rental company’s own site lists it.
• Be wary of prices far below similar rentals and pressure to book today.
• Keep payment and messages on the booking platform.

See also Rental Listing Scams.

Copycat travel and document sites

• Look-alike sites charge high fees for passport or visa help that’s available from official government sites. See Fake Government Sites.
• Only AAA and AATA are authorized to issue International Driving Permits in the U.S. Other sellers are fakes.
• Before booking a charter flight package, check that the charter is on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s approved list.

Timeshare resale and exit scams

• Resale: someone says they have a buyer and asks for an upfront fee. The FTC says anyone who guarantees a sale or high returns is a scammer, since the resale market is crowded.
• Exit companies: warning signs include unsolicited offers, guarantees to cancel your contract, large fees before any work, and telling you to stop paying your timeshare fees.
• Start with your timeshare company, since some have their own exit programs, and you can contact them yourself for free.
• Just bought one? Your contract or state law may give you a cooling-off period to cancel. Send your cancellation by certified mail with a return receipt.

If you’ve been scammed

1. Contact your card issuer or bank right away to dispute the charge. See Get Help Now.
2. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state attorney general.
3. Report fake listings to the booking platform.

Quick checklist

• Refund terms in writing
• Company or property searched with “scam” and “complaint”
• Paid by credit card on the official platform
• Passports and visas through official sites only
• No upfront fees for timeshare resale or exit

Frequently asked questions

Are timeshare presentations a scam?
Not necessarily, but they’re high-pressure sales. Calculate the true yearly cost, including maintenance fees, and don’t sign anything the same day.

The host asked me to pay outside the app for a discount. Should I?
No. Paying off-platform removes the booking site’s protections and is a common scam tactic.

How do I check a rental is real?
Search the address and photos online, check the listing on the property manager’s own site, and ask for a video call of the property.

Sources

• Avoid Scams When You Travel, FTC Consumer Advice, accessed October 25, 2026
• Timeshares, Vacation Clubs, and Related Scams, FTC Consumer Advice, accessed October 25, 2026