A study by the software company Adobe from June 2026 shows a significant increase in interest in digital security risks in travel. The analysis of search queries in 49 countries examined how intensively travelers are addressing potential scams such as counterfeit documents, identity theft, and artificial intelligence in the booking process.
In this analysis, Germany ranks third in Europe. Globally, India, the Philippines, and Australia show the most intensive search activity related to these risks. The results highlight that the increasing digitalization of the tourism industry presents new challenges for consumer protection, as criminals are increasingly using sophisticated technical methods.
Methodology of the investigation and global risk distribution
To compensate for distortions caused by differing population sizes or the tourist appeal of individual countries, the analysis calculated search volume based on 100.000 tourist arrivals. A risk index, with values up to 100 points, was then created from this data. India achieved a score of 100 points in this evaluation and leads the global ranking. This result is primarily supported by a high volume of searches related to topics such as identity theft, forged travel documents, and fraud attempts using artificial intelligence.
The Philippines follow in the global ranking with an index score of 82,42 points, and Australia with 79,40 points. The USA, in fourth place with 77,56 points, and Kenya, in fifth place with 74,57 points, also show significant search volumes. New Zealand, Canada, Indonesia, South Africa, and Ireland occupy places six through ten. At the other end of the scale are countries like Greece, China, and Spain, which exhibit a strikingly low search volume related to digital fraud risks. This suggests that travelers to these countries are either less aware of the risks or are less frequently confronted with digital irregularities.
The European perspective and the role of Germany
Within Europe, the picture is more varied, with Ireland leading the European rankings with an index score of 62,73 points. Belgium follows in second place with 61,47 points. Germany ranks third in the European evaluation with 57,57 points, followed by the Netherlands with 54,64 points and Norway with 54,07 points.
The above-average search volume in Germany indicates that German consumers are either particularly aware of the dangers of digital bookings or are increasingly confronted with corresponding fraud attempts in their daily lives. Cybersecurity experts emphasize that the German travel market, due to its high purchasing power and the population's strong desire to travel, represents a lucrative target for criminal networks. The increasing digitalization of booking processes, which often operate without personal contact, facilitates anonymous fraud attempts.
New dimensions through technological developments
The digitalization of the booking sector has fundamentally changed the attack surface for criminals. Classic, on-site fraud schemes are increasingly being replaced by sophisticated digital methods. Fraud attempts supported by artificial intelligence are playing a growing role in this. These include highly personalized phishing emails that are deceptively similar to genuine booking confirmations from airlines or hotel chains and aim to steal payment data.
Manipulated websites that meticulously mimic well-known booking portals also pose a significant risk. Consumers believe they are booking through an established platform, but in reality, their payments are being forwarded directly to criminals. Furthermore, consumer protection agencies are reporting an increase in fraudulent vacation rental listings that demand deposits for accommodations that either don't exist or aren't available for rent. These listings are often placed on reputable platforms using stolen images of real properties, making detection difficult.
Consumer responses and prevention options
The fact that popular holiday destinations like Spain or Greece have low index scores does not necessarily mean that there are no fraud risks there. Rather, it suggests that the online search behavior of people traveling there is less influenced by such concerns. Regardless of the destination, consumer protection advocates generally advise travelers to be extra vigilant when planning their holidays online.
Basic protective measures include carefully checking the legal notice (Impressum) of booking portals and using secure payment methods that allow for chargebacks in case of fraud. Direct transfers to foreign accounts or payments via money transfer services should be avoided. Furthermore, a healthy dose of skepticism should always be maintained with suspiciously cheap offers, as extreme discounts are often used as bait for fraudulent activities. The results of the study clearly demonstrate that digital vigilance must now be an integral part of comprehensive travel preparation.