When temperatures drop, Australians often travel in search of sunshine or snow. With winter travel underway, careful planning and spending are crucial. The National Australia Bank (NAB) is offering advice to help travelers avoid scams, while luggage brand July provides packing tips.
Traveling involves spending on accommodation, tickets, and transport, making travelers vulnerable to scams. Chris Sheehan from NAB's Group Investigations highlights the risks: "Travel scams tap into emotions including fear of missing out, tiredness and excitement," he said.
Sheehan advises being aware of common scams to protect oneself. These include accommodation impersonation scams where criminals pose as hotels or booking platforms. A red flag is any request to verify payment details via email or message. Ticket scams for events also exploit urgency; buying through official resellers is recommended. Overcharging in taxis or shops can occur due to distraction; researching costs beforehand can help.
Packing smartly is also essential. July co-founders Richard Li and Athan Didaskalou suggest two packing hacks for organization and avoiding overpacking.
NAB advises notifying banks when traveling overseas, monitoring transactions closely, and using secure payment methods. Their scam prevention efforts have stopped over $48 million in scam payments between October 2024 and March 2025.