How do I recover after falling for a fake travel or vacation scam?
Dispute the charge with your credit card or travel platform immediately. Report to the FTC and your state attorney general — travel fraud is a regulated industry in most states.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Travel and vacation scams range from fake timeshare presentations and fake hotel booking sites to fraudulent 'free cruise' offers and fake tour operators. If the booking involved a card payment, a chargeback is often the most direct path to recovery.
For credit card payments, file a dispute as soon as you identify the fraud. Choose 'item not received' if services were not delivered, or 'misrepresentation' if the accommodation or experience was materially different from what was advertised. Document everything: the advertised description, your booking confirmation, and evidence of what you actually received (or did not receive).
For tickets or bookings through third-party travel sites, use the platform's own dispute process first (Booking.com, Expedia, etc. all have support teams for fraud claims) before escalating to your card issuer. Legitimate booking platforms generally cooperate with fraud claims, especially if they can verify the property or operator did not exist.
If you paid fees in a timeshare presentation scam or for a vacation club membership, report to your state's attorney general consumer protection division. Most states require travel sellers and vacation clubs to be registered and follow specific disclosure rules. Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the American Society of Travel Advisors if a licensed travel agent was involved.
Common red flags
- You won a free cruise or vacation you never entered
- Booking site URL is slightly different from the real hotel chain's website
- No phone number or address for the travel company beyond an email
- Pressure to book within hours to secure a special deal
- Timeshare presentation promised a free vacation but required hours of your time and a large purchase
- Reviews for the property cannot be found on independent platforms
What to do now
- Dispute the charge with your credit card issuer immediately
- Use the travel platform's support channel if booked through an OTA
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Report to your state attorney general for travel seller fraud
- If a timeshare or vacation club, check if your state has a rescission period to cancel
Frequently asked questions
What is a timeshare rescission period?
Most U.S. states require a cooling-off period (typically 3 to 15 days) during which you can cancel a timeshare contract for any reason and receive a full refund. This is your strongest legal tool if you signed at a high-pressure presentation. Act before the rescission window closes.
I booked through a third-party site and the hotel says my reservation does not exist. What do I do?
Contact the booking platform's customer support immediately. If the platform was fraudulent (not a real OTA), dispute the charge with your credit card. If it was a real OTA that made an error, escalate within that platform — most will either honor the reservation or find alternative accommodation.