How AI can scam Canadian travellers [Video]

Industry experts are warning travellers to be wary when booking their upcoming trips online, as scammers are using artificial intelligence to defraud consumers.

“There are now so many different ways that AI is enabling those that are trying to scam people,” Chadd Andre with Flight Centre Canada said.

Flight Centre Canada commissioned a travel scam survey, which found 32 per cent of Canadians have fallen victim to travel scams. Almost half that number, 47 per cent, were Gen-Z travellers and 17 per cent admitted they were duped by a fake listing.

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According to the survey, scammers us AI to create fraudulent accommodation listings and going as far as fabricating reviews and impersonating travel agents online.

Andre said travellers might believe they’re speaking with a reputable agent when, in fact, it’s a chatbot run by a scam company.

“There are listings that pop up when you search for a certain airline …