The Call Was Coming from Inside the Scam: How to Avoid Travel Booking Fraud

Why Googling “Celebrity Cruises phone number” could cost you more than your drink package.

Let me tell you a quick story.

A couple had booked a dreamy Celebrity cruise through their trusted travel advisor. Everything was set—balcony cabin, shore excursions, the works. But a week later, they realized they forgot to add the drink package. They didn’t want to “bother” their agent for a small change, so they Googled Celebrity Cruises phone number and dialed the first one that popped up.

A professional-sounding person picked up. They knew the cruise line’s lingo. They even asked for the couple’s booking number to “pull it up.” After confirming the sailing and dates, they happily added the drink package… and took their credit card details.

You can guess what happened next.
Their card was charged for a lot more than just beverages.
And they weren’t speaking to Celebrity Cruises. They were speaking to a scammer.

Not Just a One-Time Thing

This isn’t some fluke.

The Air Canada version of this scam played out almost identically. A traveler called to add seats to an existing flight booking. The voice on the line “pulled up” the flight info, confirmed everything, and offered a great deal on premium seats.

The seats were added—because scammers can access real bookings through phishing or breached credentials. But the traveler was also charged an extra $500 for "services rendered." That part? Completely made up. And mostly non-refundable.

This type of scam isn’t new—it’s just gotten smarter.

How They Do It

Fraudsters use a sneaky mix of:

• SEO tricks to get their fake customer service numbers listed high on Google
• Paid ads that look just like official links
• Spoofed websites that are nearly identical to the real thing
• Social engineering to gain your trust fast

They’re not asking you to buy a mystery vacation to nowhere. They’re waiting for you to book something real, then intercept your call after you Google the wrong number.

They’re targeting people who’ve already paid, who might reasonably call to make a tweak or upgrade. That’s where the real damage is done—they’re not asking for a big leap of faith. Just a drink package. A seat assignment. Something small. That’s the hook.

The Stats Behind the Scams

According to the FTC, travel-related fraud cost U.S. consumers over $105 million in 2023 alone—and that’s just the reported cases.
The Better Business Bureau lists fake customer support lines as one of the fastest-growing scam tactics in travel and tech sectors.

Fraudsters target anyone, but they know travelers—especially those booking online—are often:

• Distracted
• Time-crunched
• Unaware of how easy it is to fake legitimacy online

So How Can You Avoid It?

Here’s the good news. There’s a super simple way to protect yourself:

Call your travel advisor.

Seriously. That’s it. Your agent knows the legitimate numbers. We speak fluent cruise line, airline, and tour operator. We know what a real upsell sounds like—and when something smells fishy.

Here are 5 quick ways to spot and stop a scam:

1. Always go to the official site. Don’t Google “Air Canada phone number.” Go to aircanada.com.
2. Watch for “Ad” results. Scam numbers are often placed as paid ads at the top of search results.
3. Never give your credit card over the phone unless you are absolutely sure who you’re talking to.
4. Double-check the URL of the site you're on. Look for https and official domain names.
5. Use your gut. If the person is rushing you, upselling too aggressively, or won’t email a confirmation—hang up.

Why Travel Agents Are Your Scam Shield

This is exactly why travel agents matter. We're not just here to click buttons for you. We:

• Know the right numbers to call
• Can handle changes and upgrades without exposing your info
• Work directly with the cruise line or airline—no middlemen, no risk
• Are accountable to you, not a faceless website

And if something does go sideways, you’ve got someone in your corner. Not a chatbot. A real person who can escalate, resolve, and advocate.

Final Word: Don’t DIY Yourself into a Disaster

Look, we get it. You wanted to handle a quick change yourself. You didn’t want to bug anyone. You figured a simple Google search would be safe. But the internet is full of sharks wearing polos and saying “thank you for calling.” Next time, don’t take the bait.

Whether you just need to add an excursion, your travel advisor should always be your first call.

We’re here to make your travel life easier—and safer. And yes, we’re happy to add the drink package.