PORTLAND, OR -- The FBI is warning travelers of increasing scam activity as we approach warmer weather. They say fraudsters know we’re all desperate to get outside and out of town, "Travel scams come in many forms: emails, cold calls, social media, even submit or play-to-win drawings."

Experts suggest avoiding robo calls and doing your homework before booking a discount hotel stay, car rental or airline ticket, "If you answer your phone to an automated message, hang up and block the number. Research a company before you book with it; look up reviews and ratings to see if other customers were satisfied with the service. And check multiple sites; fraudsters can post fake online reviews." And, they say requests to pay with a gift card, cashiers check or cash app are big red flags. Your best protection is to book with a credit card.