New research from the Australian Institute of Criminology shows scams and online fraud continue to rise in Australia, with fewer people adopting basic online safety habits.

The AIC’s 2025 Australian cybercrime survey found almost half of the more than 10,000 Australians surveyed experienced cybercrime in the past year, with fraud and scam victimisation particularly high among men and people aged 25 to 49.

The survey also found more Australians were clicking on links and opening attachments from unknown senders than the year before — a concern given scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to create convincing emails and text messages that appear to come from trusted airlines, hotels and booking platforms.

It’s a trend global cybersecurity company McAfee says is creating new opportunities for scammers to target travellers.

According to McAfee’s latest global research, rising travel costs and the pressure to secure the best deals are causing many people to let their guard down when booking holidays online, with nine in 10 travellers revealing they’ve felt pressure to book quickly, while one in three admit ignoring warning signs for fear of missing out on a bargain.

McAfee says that sense of urgency is exactly what scammers seek out to exploit.

“When prices are high and availability feels tight, people will likely move faster,” McAfee head of threat research Abhishek Karnik says.

“Scammers take advantage of that by impersonating the travel brands and messages consumers already trust.”

What’s more, AI is making these scams faster to create, look more convincing, and easier to scale.

AI is making these scams faster to create, look more convincing, and easier to scale

According to McAfee’s research, Tripadvisor is the travel platform most commonly cloned by scammers, with fake versions appearing at around three times the rate of other major travel brands, including Expedia, Kayak and Booking.com.

The research also found many travellers place too much trust in messages that appear to come from airlines, hotels or booking platforms, with 41 per cent admitting they don’t always verify whether they’re genuine before clicking links or responding to requests.

To reduce the risk of falling victim to a travel scam, experts recommend booking flights, accommodation and tours directly through official websites or reputable booking platforms wherever possible, rather than clicking links in unsolicited emails, text messages or social media posts.

If you receive a message claiming to be from an airline or hotel, take a moment to verify it by logging into your account via the company’s official website or app instead of following the link provided. And don’t be afraid to report and block any messages you are suspicious of.

Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true or create a false sense of urgency, as these are common tactics used by scammers to pressure people into acting quickly.

When booking anything travel-related online, it’s recommended you do some research to make sure the company or destination you’re interested in actually exist, and seek out independent consumer reviews across various platforms like Google and Facebook.

You should also avoid accessing banking or other sensitive accounts over public wi-fi unless you’re using a trusted VPN, and think twice before scanning QR codes or making payments outside recognised booking platforms.

And don’t forget to keep up to date with the various scams doing the rounds via Australia’s ScamWatch website, which regularly publishes scam alerts, emerging trends and practical advice to help Australians stay protected.