OPINION: Tips to avoid being scammed on your summer vacation

It might have seemed like the perfect vacation rental, but you get there only to find that the property is occupied and not for rent.

Or you book your hotel through a third-party site but then are deluged with demands for more fees. Also, you have submitted your credit card number and are now the victim of identity theft.

These horrors and more confront travelers, particularly at the start of the summer vacation season. Add in the use of artificial intelligence to make fake websites look more real, and travelers this season can face issues much worse than a delayed flight or lost luggage. Many such problems can be avoided by doing research before spending any money and questioning supposed deals that appear too good to be true:

Here are some ways to protect your trip and your wallet:

Keep your guard up, even if a rental home or condo has low fees and great amenities — and especially if the supposed owner creates a sense of urgency by claiming another party might beat you to it. There have been reports of properties that not only aren’t for rent, but that don’t even exist or look nothing like the photos posted online. If you’re not going through a service that verifies properties and owners, don’t be tempted to negotiate an agreement by email only. Make sure to speak with the owner and ask detailed questions about the property and local attractions. If you get only vague answers, consider that a red flag. Also, use Google Street View to find the property and make sure it matches the one advertised. And verify distances to beaches and other attractions, to confirm authenticity, the Better Business Bureau advises.

Hotels can also be a gold mine for scammers. A common fraud strikes in the middle of the night, counting on travelers being tired. For example, a thief impersonating the front desk will call to say there’s a problem with the credit card on file. The guest would rather not go down to the lobby to sort it out and instead will agree to repeat back the credit card information. Those who do so have just given carte blanche to a bad guy. Also be protective of private information when using what appears to be free hotel Wifi. There have been reports of scammers controlling the free connection through their computer so they can intercept traveler passwords and other details. Never make banking transactions or disclose financial information over an open WiFi network. One more: Note that the convenience of food delivery to your hotel room is not always convenient. Scammers have been known to deliver fake menus throughout the hotel. When someone calls the number, the supposed eatery steals the credit card information. Needless to say, no food is ever delivered.

Third-party booking sites can be a menace when it comes to making hotel reservations. While there are well-known legitimate sites, some mimic an official hotel logo or a legitimate travel agency to trick people. These fake outlets have nothing to do with the hotel. Never enter credit card information before looking closely at the URL to make sure you’re on a legitimate site. Make reservations only through secure websites that start with “https://” and show a padlock symbol. If you’re unsure about a booking deal or offer, contact the hotel directly.