Traveling to the Olympics in Italy? Here’s how to avoid a scam

With the winter Olympics in Italy fast approaching, athletes around the world are fine-tuning their routines, sharpening their skates, and finalizing their travel itineraries. If you’re planning to go to the Olympics, having a sound game plan is a key to success, just as it is for the competitors. Here’s what to know about travel, ticket, and vacation rental scams before you embark on your journey. Travel Documents If you’re an American citizen going to Italy for the Olympics, you don’t need a travel visa if you’re staying less than 90 days. If you’re staying longer than 90 days and need visa services, watch for copycat websites made to look like the official U.S. Department of State or other government organizations. They claim to help you get an international travel visa, passport, or other documents and may charge you high fees or charge you for services that are free. To learn more about travel requirements for Italy, see the U.S. Department of State’s webpage about Italy. Tickets to the Olympic Games When it comes to tickets, ticket re-sellers or brokers aren’t authorized to sell tickets to the 2026 Olympics in Italy. The only place to buy them is the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics website. So, if you see tickets for sale elsewhere, it’s a scam. Vacation Rentals If you’re looking to rent an apartment or vacation home, be on the lookout for rental listing scams. Scammers copy legitimate rental listings, changing the contact information so you reach them instead of the real landlord, and posting their fake listing on a different site. Or they make up listings for places that aren’t for rent or don’t exist. Learn how to spot and avoid fake vacation rental ads. If you see a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.