In today's world, travel scams are an unfortunate risk of going from point a to point b. Unscrupulous individuals often see travelers as easy targets to fleece. That's especially common with travelers going to places where they're not familiar with the native language or currency.

However, when on the move, people can take steps to protect themselves and avoid being taken advantage of. While travel scams are consistently changing, some of the most common ones include intentional overcharges from taxi drivers, fake websites purporting to provide visas, and fraudsters posing as "visa officials" at different national borders.

In Lisbon, Portugal, travelers are now being warned about the new lost luggage scam.

Here's what you need to know

A Facebook post - falsely claiming affiliation with Lisbon's airport - asserts to be selling lost luggage for two euros. To make the scam seem credible, multiple comments on the post allege to have purchased Macbooks, sunglasses, and name-brand clothing from those selling misplaced bags.

The catch is that to "purchase" lost luggage, interested parties have to provide their banking information online.

ANA Aeroportos de Portugal - the Portuguese airport authority - warns this is a scam travelers shouldn't fall for. The Lisbon airport is not, in fact, selling lost luggage for any price.

In official remarks, ANA Aeroportos de Portugal confirmed it reported the fraudulent post to Meta and is employing legal action to hold individuals behind the scam accountable.

Keeping track of your luggage while traveling

If you need to check your bags at the airport, the following tips are helpful to avoid running into problems:

• Use your airline's mobile app to track your luggage after checking it in
• Make sure you check the tag on your luggage before taking it away from baggage claim
• Add unique markings, colors, or stickers on your luggage to reduce the likelihood of someone else mistaking it as their own
• For connections, ask if your bag is checked to your final destination or if it needs rechecking at connecting airports

With the right precautions, avoiding travel scams and making sure all your bags arrive where they should becomes much easier.