Summer is a popular time for Arizona retirees to visit family, escape the heat or enjoy a well-earned vacation. It is also a busy season for scammers who use fake travel deals, hotel booking sites, phishing emails and urgent payment requests to target travelers.

Before you pack your bags, a few simple steps can help protect your money, debit card and personal information while you are away. At Sun Canyon Bank, we want you to feel confident using your accounts at home, on the road and everywhere your summer plans take you.

How Can Retirees Protect Their Money From Travel Scams?

Retirees can protect their money from summer travel scams by booking through trusted sources, avoiding suspicious links, using account alerts and checking transactions often while traveling. It also helps to pause before sending money, especially if someone creates pressure or asks for unusual payment methods.

Before your trip, take these steps:

  • Book hotels, flights and rentals through trusted websites or directly with the company.
  • Avoid clicking travel deal links in unexpected emails, texts or social media messages.
  • Set up account alerts so you can spot unusual debit card activity quickly.
  • Use secure internet connections when checking accounts or making purchases.
  • Talk with someone you trust before sending money to a person or business you do not know.
  • Contact us if you notice suspicious activity or need help reviewing your account.

Watch For Fake Hotel And Vacation Rental Listings

Fake hotel booking scams and vacation rental listings can look very convincing. Scammers may copy photos from real properties, create lookalike websites or post “limited time” travel deals that ask you to pay quickly.

Before booking a stay, slow down and check the details. Look for the property through a trusted travel site or the hotel’s official website. If the price is much lower than similar listings, the host avoids written details or the payment request seems unusual, it may be a scam.

Be cautious if someone asks you to pay with a wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency or payment application instead of a secure booking method. Once money is sent through those channels, it can be difficult to recover.

Related Reading: Protect Yourself From These Five Scams In 2026

Be Careful With Travel Phishing Emails And Texts

Phishing scams while traveling often appear as urgent messages about a flight, hotel reservation, delivery, toll charge or account problem. The message may ask you to click a link, confirm personal information or enter your debit card number.

If you receive a message about a reservation, do not click the link right away. Instead, open a browser and go directly to the airline, hotel or travel company’s official website. You can also call the company using a phone number from its verified website, not the number listed in the suspicious message.

A few warning signs include:

  • Misspelled words or odd formatting
  • A message that creates urgency or pressure
  • A request for your full card number, PIN, password or one-time code
  • A sender’s address or phone number that does not match the company
  • A link that looks close to a real website but includes extra words or characters

Read More: Is Online Banking Safe? Debunking Common Myths For Seniors

Protect Your Debit Card While Traveling

Debit card safety while traveling starts before you leave home. Make sure your card is active, your contact information is up to date and you know how to reach your bank if a card is lost or stolen.

While traveling, keep your card in a secure place and avoid handing it to someone unless necessary. If you use an ATM, choose one inside a bank, hotel or well-lit public area. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN and inspect the card reader for anything loose or unusual.

It is also smart to bring more than one payment option. That way, if one card is lost, blocked or compromised, you still have a backup while you work with your bank.

Use Account Alerts Before And During Your Trip

Account alerts can help you catch suspicious activity early. Before your trip, consider setting alerts for debit card purchases, ATM withdrawals, low balances or transactions over a certain dollar amount.

If an alert comes through for a purchase you did not make, you can act quickly. Review your account activity, pause before responding to any message that asks for personal information and contact us using a trusted phone number or secure banking channel.

Our digital banking and mobile banking tools can make it easier to monitor transactions while you travel. If you need help getting started, we are happy to walk you through your options before you leave.

Set Up Account Alerts Before Your Trip

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Avoid Public Wi-Fi For Banking Or Shopping

Public Wi-Fi at airports, hotels, restaurants and rental properties can be convenient, but it is not always secure. If you need to check your bank account, make a purchase or enter personal information, use a secure connection instead.

When possible, use your phone’s cellular data or a trusted private network. If you must use public Wi-Fi, avoid entering passwords, card numbers or banking details. Also, be careful with pop-ups that ask you to download software or update your information before connecting. If the activity involves money or personal information, wait until you have a safer connection.

Tell Someone You Trust Before Sending Money

Many travel scam prevention steps come down to slowing the process. Scammers often create pressure because they do not want you to think, compare details or ask for advice.

If someone asks you to send money for a travel emergency, rental deposit, missed reservation or unexpected fee, pause before paying. Call a trusted family member, friend or the business directly through a verified phone number.

This is especially important if the request involves:

  • Gift cards
  • Wire transfers
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Payment apps
  • Urgent “today only” travel deals
  • A person you met online
  • A family emergency that has not been confirmed

A quick conversation with someone you trust can help you avoid a costly mistake.

What To Do If You Think You Were Scammed

If you think you shared card information, clicked a suspicious link or sent money to a scammer, act quickly. The sooner you respond, the better your chances of limiting damage.

Take these steps:

  1. Contact us right away if your Sun Canyon Bank account or debit card may be affected.
  2. Review recent transactions and write down anything that looks unfamiliar.
  3. Change passwords for any affected accounts.
  4. Do not respond to follow-up calls, texts or emails from the suspected scammer.
  5. Save messages, receipts, phone numbers or screenshots connected to the situation.
  6. Report the scam to the proper agency if needed.

If you are unsure whether something is legitimate, please reach out. We would rather help you check a concern early than have you worry about it while traveling.

Travel With More Confidence This Summer

Summer travel should feel exciting, not stressful. Whether you are leaving for a few days or a few months, a little preparation can help protect your money while traveling.

Set up account alerts, use secure connections, book through trusted sources and be cautious with unexpected messages. If something feels rushed, unusual or too good to be true, take a moment to check before you pay.

At Sun Canyon Bank, we are here to help you bank with confidence before, during and after your trip.

Get Help Before You Travel

Frequently Asked Questions About Summer Travel Scams

What Are The Most Common Summer Travel Scams?

Common summer travel scams include fake hotel booking websites, vacation rental scams, phishing emails or texts, fake customer service numbers, ATM skimming and urgent payment requests. Scammers often use travel deals, reservation problems or emergency messages to pressure people into sharing money or personal information.

How Can I Tell If A Hotel Booking Website Is Fake?

A hotel booking website may be fake if the web address looks unusual, the price is far lower than similar rooms, contact information is missing or the site asks for payment through gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or payment apps. When in doubt, search for the hotel’s official website and call the verified phone number listed there.

Should I Use A Debit Card While Traveling?

You can use a debit card while traveling, but it is important to use it carefully. Set up account alerts, check transactions often, use secure ATMs, protect your PIN and contact your bank quickly if your card is lost or if you see suspicious activity.

What Should I Do If I Shared My Card Information With A Scammer?

If you shared your card information with a scammer, contact your bank right away. Review your recent transactions, change any affected passwords, save records of the scam and avoid responding to additional messages from the scammer.