McAfee Releases 2026 "Safer Summer Travel Survey"
A survey of 1,000 residents in Japan by McAfee reveals that budget-conscious consumers seeking cheap travel plans due to inflation are increasingly targeted by scams. While 30% have experienced travel scams, risky behaviors like using public Wi-Fi remain widespread during travel.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 21, 2026 at 19:16
- 🔍 Collected: May 21, 2026 at 11:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 21, 2026 at 11:05 (3 min after Collected)
McAfee Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), a provider of online security solutions, announced today the results of its latest "Safer Summer Travel Survey." The survey, conducted among 1,000 residents in Japan aged 18 and older, revealed that inflation is driving many to seek better travel deals, leading them to engage in high-risk behaviors. The findings also highlight that while many are concerned about their online safety, travelers continue to take risks during their trips. As the summer travel season approaches, McAfee aims to support a safer online environment where customers can use the internet with peace of mind through its online protection tools.
Key survey findings include:
- Scam risks rise amid economic pressure: Due to inflation, 21% of respondents said they are "more likely to look for cheaper travel plans."
- Scams remain prevalent despite high consumer awareness: Despite taking safety precautions, nearly 30% of respondents have fallen victim to travel scams.
- Putting themselves in danger while traveling: While 41% reported being "more worried about scams while traveling than in daily life," they still engage in high-risk behaviors, such as connecting to public Wi-Fi and sharing their travel status in real-time on social media.
## Scam Risks Rise Amid Economic Pressure
More than 60% (62%) of respondents plan to travel within the next 12 months, and 70% indicated that "finding the lowest possible price when booking" is at least somewhat important to them. However, nearly half of the respondents (44%) feel that "travel costs are higher compared to the same time last year," leading 21% to actively search for lower-priced plans more than before.
Scammers are cleverly exploiting this consumer desire to "travel as cheaply as possible." Over the past 12 months, 42% of respondents said they had seen or received travel campaigns or holiday deals. Furthermore, 89% have felt pressured to "book now" when faced with offers that appear to be for a limited time, with 16% reporting they feel this pressure "frequently."
Fraudsters attempt to capitalize on the vulnerabilities created by this "rush." In fact, 23% of consumers admitted they have ignored warning signs of a potential scam because they "didn't want to miss an attractive special offer." This trend is especially pronounced among younger demographics, with 28% of those under 45 reporting they overlooked warning signs, compared to 18% of those aged 45 and over.
## Scams Remain Prevalent Despite High Consumer Awareness
Vigilance against travel-related scams is already widespread. More than half of respondents (58%) stated they check URLs before opening links in travel-related messages. However, despite the prevalence of such precautions, 30% reported having experienced some form of travel-related scam in the past. Notable examples include fake travel itineraries or promotions (10%) and manipulated or misleading photos that do not match the reality of the accommodation or destination (9%). The economic damage from these scams is also severe. Among those who fell victim, 58% experienced financial loss, with 62% of that group reporting damages exceeding 46,300 JPY.
Looking ahead, concerns are mounting that the evolution of AI will make scams even harder to detect. Nearly half of the respondents (49%) worry that "AI is making travel scam tactics more sophisticated and difficult to spot," highlighting anxieties that such incidents will escalate further.
## Putting Themselves in Danger While Traveling
Many people are heightening their vigilance against scams while traveling. 41% of respondents stated they are "more worried about scams while traveling than in daily life," and 30% said they remain "as cautious while traveling as they are at home."
On the other hand, the survey revealed that despite this strong vigilance, many travelers continue to engage in high-risk behaviors. More than half (57%) reported being constantly connected to the internet while traveling, and many of their usage methods involve security risks.
Specifically, these behaviors included connecting to public Wi-Fi at hotels and cafes (35%), scanning QR codes for menus, tickets, and various services (31%), sharing real-time travel updates on social media (14%), and accessing bank accounts or financial apps while using public Wi-Fi (9%).
During travel, constantly
Key survey findings include:
- Scam risks rise amid economic pressure: Due to inflation, 21% of respondents said they are "more likely to look for cheaper travel plans."
- Scams remain prevalent despite high consumer awareness: Despite taking safety precautions, nearly 30% of respondents have fallen victim to travel scams.
- Putting themselves in danger while traveling: While 41% reported being "more worried about scams while traveling than in daily life," they still engage in high-risk behaviors, such as connecting to public Wi-Fi and sharing their travel status in real-time on social media.
## Scam Risks Rise Amid Economic Pressure
More than 60% (62%) of respondents plan to travel within the next 12 months, and 70% indicated that "finding the lowest possible price when booking" is at least somewhat important to them. However, nearly half of the respondents (44%) feel that "travel costs are higher compared to the same time last year," leading 21% to actively search for lower-priced plans more than before.
Scammers are cleverly exploiting this consumer desire to "travel as cheaply as possible." Over the past 12 months, 42% of respondents said they had seen or received travel campaigns or holiday deals. Furthermore, 89% have felt pressured to "book now" when faced with offers that appear to be for a limited time, with 16% reporting they feel this pressure "frequently."
Fraudsters attempt to capitalize on the vulnerabilities created by this "rush." In fact, 23% of consumers admitted they have ignored warning signs of a potential scam because they "didn't want to miss an attractive special offer." This trend is especially pronounced among younger demographics, with 28% of those under 45 reporting they overlooked warning signs, compared to 18% of those aged 45 and over.
## Scams Remain Prevalent Despite High Consumer Awareness
Vigilance against travel-related scams is already widespread. More than half of respondents (58%) stated they check URLs before opening links in travel-related messages. However, despite the prevalence of such precautions, 30% reported having experienced some form of travel-related scam in the past. Notable examples include fake travel itineraries or promotions (10%) and manipulated or misleading photos that do not match the reality of the accommodation or destination (9%). The economic damage from these scams is also severe. Among those who fell victim, 58% experienced financial loss, with 62% of that group reporting damages exceeding 46,300 JPY.
Looking ahead, concerns are mounting that the evolution of AI will make scams even harder to detect. Nearly half of the respondents (49%) worry that "AI is making travel scam tactics more sophisticated and difficult to spot," highlighting anxieties that such incidents will escalate further.
## Putting Themselves in Danger While Traveling
Many people are heightening their vigilance against scams while traveling. 41% of respondents stated they are "more worried about scams while traveling than in daily life," and 30% said they remain "as cautious while traveling as they are at home."
On the other hand, the survey revealed that despite this strong vigilance, many travelers continue to engage in high-risk behaviors. More than half (57%) reported being constantly connected to the internet while traveling, and many of their usage methods involve security risks.
Specifically, these behaviors included connecting to public Wi-Fi at hotels and cafes (35%), scanning QR codes for menus, tickets, and various services (31%), sharing real-time travel updates on social media (14%), and accessing bank accounts or financial apps while using public Wi-Fi (9%).
During travel, constantly
FAQ
Why are travel scam risks higher this summer?
Due to inflation, 21% of people are actively seeking cheaper travel plans, and scammers are exploiting this desire to travel economically.
How much financial damage do travel scams cause?
According to McAfee's survey, 62% of victims reported financial losses exceeding 46,300 JPY.
What dangerous behaviors should be avoided while traveling?
Unprotected use of public Wi-Fi, scanning unknown QR codes, and sharing real-time locations on social media.