Travel Warning: AI Phone Scams Posing as Airlines and Hotels Could Spike This Summer

AI scam calls hit record levels on US phone networks last year,

and this type of fraud often outpaces mobile operator defenses. 24% of Americans say they can’t distinguish scam calls from real ones.

A shocking one in four Americans claim they have received a deepfake scam call in the last year, and 48% of Americans say unwanted calls are only getting worse.

This summer, experts are expecting these kinds of scams to peak. AI scammers impersonate airlines, hotels, banks, or travel agents during the summer months when people are more distracted by travelling, booking trips, shopping, and kids, and phone scammers exploit this every season.

Thibault Louis-Lucas, Founder & CEO of Revid AI, claims learning to spot artificial voices during phone calls might save thousands from sophisticated cons that have already stolen millions from unsuspecting Americans.

“The technology behind these scams has developed very quickly,” he explained. “Today’s AI needs just seconds of your voice to create convincing clones, letting criminals pose as your bank or tax office without setting off alarm bells.”

Random calls discussing money should trigger suspicion. Louis-Lucas explained:

“These AI fraudsters typically claim they’ve spotted suspicious transactions on your accounts or that you’re entitled to a refund, but it’s all a ploy to steal your personal information.

“Voice-cloning tools now pump out startlingly real fake calls at costs lower than ever. Criminal gangs who once lacked access to advanced tech can now afford these sophisticated tools, dramatically increasing the threat to ordinary people.”

The expert shared the top three giveaways that reveal artificially generated voices.

“You can spot fake callers if you listen carefully, so be sure to pay attention to:

Strange pauses before the caller answers questions.

Background noise that suddenly appears or disappears.

If the caller struggles to respond naturally to unexpected questions you throw at them.”

The problem has grown to massive proportions across the US. Overall, Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams in 2024. Scam calls specifically took the equivalent of $1,500 per victim, according to latest estimates.

“When something sounds off about a call discussing your money or asking for personal details, it almost certainly is. Hang up immediately,” warned Louis-Lucas.

The expert highlighted pressure tactics as a major red flag no one should ignore.

“Watch out for callers rushing you to make decisions on the spot or who avoid answering straight questions when you try to check who they really are,” he continued. “Those behaviours almost always mean you’re dealing with cons and not legitimate staff.”

Victims often stay quiet. They feel humiliated after being duped or believe authorities won’t take their case seriously.

Scammers rely on this shame to keep victims silent while they continue operating without fear of getting caught. Targets should report incidents to the Federal Trade Commission, and if it involved illegal robocalls, to the Federal Communications Commission.

“Prevention remains the best protection against these criminals,” Louis-Lucas stressed. “Never give personal details to someone who called you first. If you need to check if something’s genuine, put the phone down and call the company back using the official number from their website or your bank card. Taking extra precautions when something feels wrong can save you from becoming another victim.”