Latest travel scams: Here's how to protect your money when booking a vacation

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A summer vacation is the perfect way to relax, but until you're safely on the beach, be skeptical of certain offers online.

Scammers are constantly evolving their tricks to take your money.

Here are three most common travel scams to look our for -- and how to protect yourself, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

First -- when searching online for a hotel and flights, scammers can use paid search engine ads to put their website or phone number next to a well-known company's name in the results.

The links take you to a website that looks like a real hotel or airline, but instead steal your payment information or give you the phone number to phony customer service.

So instead of clicking the first link you see, scroll down to the unpaid search results, right below the sponsored ones. Then be sure to check you have the correct website and contact info.

Or if you know the company's website URL, type it directly in your browser.

Second -- if you're hitting the road for your next vacation -- be skeptical of any text messages about unpaid tolls. Scammers often send urgent fake texts with phishing links for payment using the logo of a legitimate toll agency.

To see if it's legit, contact the toll agency directly, like FastTrak.

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The third travel tip, as we've reported many times here on 7 On Your Side, pay attention to how you're asked to make any kind of payment. If a company asks for payment as a wire transfer, gift card, payment app or cryptocurrency -- those are red flags.

Fourth, the FTC recommends getting all the details of a travel offer. If the organizer fails to provide more specific information other than saying, 'you'll stay at a 'five-star' resort," you're advised to walk away.

Lastly, as you know, do some research by looking up the names of travel companies, hotels, rentals, agents with the words "review," "complaints" and "scam," and look at what people are saying online.

Remember -- once scammers get your money, it's hard to get it back, so use methods of payments with consumer protections, like credit cards.

For more information from the Federal Trade Commission, click here.

Take a look at more stories and videos by 7 On Your Side.

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