McAfee has released its ‘India Safer Summer Travel Research’ report, uncovering a troubling paradox that although 86% of Indian travellers state they research scams before booking holidays, 47% have still fallen victim to travel-related fraud.

The survey focused on the topic of travel scams and the impact of these scams on consumers, and was conducted online in February 2025.

The focus group for this study included 7,000 plus adults in the US, UK, France, Germany, India, Japan, and Australia, aged 18 plus.

These scams have a significant impact, as over half (53%) of Indian travellers who experienced them lost money, with nearly 1 in 5 losing over INR 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.

The report also cited that with over half (51%) of Indiantravellers saying they or someone they know has experienced a scam, McAfee’s research paints a vivid picture of how cyber threats are evolving just as travel trends peak.

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.

Furthermore, sporting events like IPL only add to the vulnerability, with 82% of fans expressing concern about ticket-related scams and 60% intend to be extra cautious.

Other highlights from the report:

• 22% clicked scam links for travel confirmations
• 19% submitted payment details on fake websites
• 21% paid for accommodations that didn’t exist
• 12% had ID or passport stolen, leading to identity theft
• 10% experienced stolen boarding pass QR codes

Pratim Mukherjee, senior director of engineering, McAfee, said, "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. 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.”