The 'free vacation' scam

Scammers lure you with promises of a free or heavily discounted vacation, then pressure you to pay upfront fees or provide payment details to claim your 'prize.'

Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-11T18:14:57.874Z

How it works

You receive an unsolicited call, email, or text claiming you've won a free vacation or special travel offer. The scammer creates urgency by saying the deal expires soon or spots are limited, and pressures you to act immediately and provide payment information to 'secure' or 'process' your free trip.

What it can look like

You get a call saying you've qualified for a free week at a resort, but you need to pay a small 'processing fee' or 'taxes' right away to lock it in. The caller rushes you and becomes insistent if you hesitate or ask questions.

How it unfolds

Scams like this follow a pattern. Knowing the arc helps you notice where you are — and step away before the ask.

You receive a call, email, or text saying you've won a free vacation or special travel prize you never entered. The message feels official and exciting.

The caller or sender builds trust by knowing your name, asking friendly questions about your travel dreams, and offering 'exclusive' details about resorts or destinations. They create urgency by saying the offer expires soon.

They ask you to 'verify' or 'secure' your prize by paying a small upfront fee for taxes, processing, insurance, or resort fees. They pressure you to pay by wire transfer, gift card, or credit card—immediately.

After you pay, the 'vacation' never materializes, contact becomes difficult, or you're asked for more money to unlock the package. This is the moment to stop responding and seek help.

If you realize mid-process that something feels wrong—the requests for payment don't match a real company's practices, the caller avoids direct questions, or they won't send details in writing—STOP all contact immediately.

Red flags

You're told you've won or qualified for something you never entered or applied for.
Pressure to pay an upfront fee, deposit, or tax to claim a 'free' vacation.
Refusal to provide details in writing, or evasiveness about where the money goes.
Urgency tactics: 'This offer expires today' or 'Only three spots left.'
Request for payment by wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency, or other hard-to-trace method.

What to do

Hang up immediately and do not give any payment or personal information.
Look up the company independently using a phone number or website you find yourself—never use contact info from the unsolicited message.
Report the incident at reportfraud.ftc.gov so authorities can track these schemes and protect others.

If it already happened

Acting quickly can limit the damage. You are not alone, and it is not your fault.

Stop all contact with the sender immediately. Do not respond to follow-up messages, calls, or emails, and do not send any additional money.
Contact your bank or credit card company right away. Tell them the charge is fraudulent or unauthorized. Ask them to reverse the transaction, put a freeze on the account if needed, and monitor for other suspicious activity.
Gather and keep all records: emails, text messages, call logs, receipts, payment confirmations, and any documents the scammer sent you. Do not delete anything.
Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Include all the details you've gathered. If you paid by wire transfer or gift card, also report to the wire service or gift card company immediately, as time is critical.

Sources

Guidance on this page draws on public, authoritative consumer-protection resources (verified live 2026-07-10). Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-11T18:14:57.874Z.

Spotted this or lost money? Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov. This is general educational information, not legal or financial advice — and ScamVet never asks for your identity or account details.

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