Summer brings with it long afternoons at the beach, loud block parties and endless road trips — but it also brings a spike in scams. Fraudsters love to target travelers, online shoppers, concert-goers and homeowners during the warmest months of the year, using bogus deals, urgent requests and more.

Don’t get scammed! Here are some of the most common summer scams and how to avoid them.

Travel scams

In these scams, fraudsters target vacationers with offers that are too good to be true. They’ll promote bogus travel sites that lure the victim with incredibly low prices, which the victim uses to book a vacation. Unfortunately, when the vacationer travels to the alleged rental, they’ll find it doesn’t exist.

Red flags: “Free vacation” offers and ridiculously low-priced getaways are likely scams.

Stay safe: Only book your vacations through reputable travel sites and platforms. Before reserving a rental, verify the property address online and run the photos through reverse-image search to see if they’re legit or just generic stock photos scraped off the internet. It’s also a good idea to pay via credit card so you can dispute the transaction if it turns out to be a scam.

Online shopping scams

Summer sales and social media ads can be tempting – and dangerous. Here, scammers create copycat shopping websites or fake social media stores selling seasonal gear, like outdoor grills and pool floats, at huge discounts They may lure you with aggressive email or text campaigns, fake security alerts or spoofed “order confirmation” messages. For example, you might get a phony delivery notice asking you to click a link to “reschedule” a missed package — and that link will lead you to malware or a credential-stealing site.

Red flags: Be wary of URLs containing spelling errors and typos, emails that use urgent or threatening language, or “verification” requests for account details you didn’t initiate.

Stay safe: Only shop trusted sellers and platforms. Verify that each landing page you visit is secure by checking for a padlock symbol and reviewing the spelling of the URL. Never pay by wire transfer or gift card when making a purchase from an unknown seller and be cautious of pop-up ads offering “limited time” deals. If you get an unexpected package notification or account alert, don’t click any links; instead log into your account directly or call the company using a verified number.

Event ticket scams

Concerts, sports games and festivals are summer staples, and scammers know it. Fake or counterfeit tickets are sold on shady sites and through social media posts, with fraud sales peaking in the summer.

Red flags: Beware of unsolicited offers for tickets. Similarly, be wary of Facebook accounts and Craigslist listings that claim to have extra “Hot Concert” tickets for a fraction of face value, as these are likely scams. Other red flags include requests to pay by cash or bank transfer, or websites without membership in recognized ticketing organizations.

Stay safe: Only buy tickets from the venue box office, official promoter or verified resale sites. Use a credit card to pay, if possible.

Door-to-door scams

Door-to-door solicitations tend to rise with the temperature each year. In these scams, fraudsters knock on doors and offer various home repairs, from roofing to driveway paving to power washing and more. They’ll pressure the target with scare tactics like, “Our crew is leaving town tomorrow” or claim to have extra materials “left over.” You might also see people posing as utility or maintenance workers offering quick fixes to alleged emergency situations.

Red flags: Be wary of “contractors” who don’t have proper licensing or permits. Similarly, avoid maintenance workers who offer super-cheap work or pressure you to hire them on the spot. Finally, don’t believe a door-knocker who claims there’s a sudden emergency, like a gas leak or another crisis.

Stay safe: Never do business with a stranger on the spot. Verify credentials before you hand over your personal info, cash or credit card. Ask for references before hiring and get a complete written estimate of the cost up front.

If you’ve been scammed

If you believe you’ve fallen victim to one of these or a similar scam, it’s imperative that you take immediate action to mitigate the damage. Contact your credit union or credit card company as soon as possible to report any fraudulent charges and request a reversal. If you paid via a wire transfer or money app, notify the wire company; in some cases they may help recover funds. If gift cards were used, contact the card issuer to explain the fraud. Change any passwords that may have been compromised.

Next, report the scam. File a report with the FTC and let local law enforcement agencies know about the scam. If you shared personal details, like your Social Security number or account information, you may need a recovery plan for identity theft. Visit IdentityTheft.gov for step-by-step guidance.

Don’t get scammed this summer! Follow these tips to stay safe.