I Panicked About These 3 Airport SCAMS So You Don’t Have To

Traveling can be stressful enough without having to worry about scams. Unfortunately, scams are very real and something you have to look out for.

There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Travelers are VERY susceptible to being scammed. We do a ton of traveling, and we’re very aware of this reality. As a precaution, we always stay up-to-date on the latest scam warnings — and we’re letting you know about 3 airport scams to be aware of BEFORE you travel so you know how to avoid them!

Juice Jackers Scam

According to the Transportation Security Administration, charging your phone at the airport via the public USB ports is a BAD IDEA.

Per the warning, hackers can install malware at USB ports, and the process is called juice/port jacking. 

It’s advised that you bring one or more TSA-compliant power bricks/battery packs to use for charging devices instead. It’s also advised that you avoid making any online purchases or entering any sensitive information when you’re using public Wi-Fi at the airport.

Third-Party TSA PreCheck Scams

To avoid this scam, you really need to be double-checking website URLs.

Third-party websites might offer to help you sign up for TSA PreCheck or offer a discounted rate. DO NOT TRUST THESE SITES.

Instead, make sure you’re registering via TSA.gov. Otherwise, you’ll be susceptible to a scam.

Taxi Scams

This last scam is something that can be difficult to respond to in real time, so it’s super important to be ready for it before you arrive at the airport.

Some taxi drivers might demand an inflated fare rate or drive you in circles. In some rare cases, they might even drive off with your luggage still in the trunk.

It’s always a good idea to know your route before and during your trip to avoid being scammed. Additionally, if a driver steals your luggage (intentionally or by accident), be ready to call the taxi company as well as the police (in the case of theft).

In the modern era, skipping taxis altogether may be the way to go. Rideshares like Uber will have you agree to a fare before selecting a ride. There are also tons of bus and shuttle services you can pre-purchase that will take you to your hotel from the airport and vice versa.

What other scams should travelers be aware of? Let us know and continue to follow us here at AllEars for more travel tips!

BEWARE: 3 TRAVEL SCAMS To Avoid in 2025

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

Share your best airport travel tips and great ways to avoid scams in the comments below!

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