Holiday scams

Holiday booking online – typical scams

Online payments over unsecured unreliable websites could result in fraud
Booking flights online can be a fake ticket, or pay for a ticket that never arrives
Bogus holiday scams typically are:
Fake websites or email offers for holidays or villas that don’t exist. They require you to pay a deposit, which you never see again
Fake competition scams defrauding you out of a fee to secure a holiday
Tempted to check in at the airport? Avoid posting on social media or by using travel tracking sites that you are away.

Double check the website name is it spelt correctly, no characters out of place, does the name look genuine and reputable?
Some websites are made to promise you a holiday but steal your money. Stick to well known sites. Do some research before booking anything.
You should feel more confident if the website is known and reputable name. Be alert if using smaller sites. Search the website address along with the words 'reviews' into a search engine.
Is the deal too good to be true? Does the website seem unusual? Did the payment process seem different? If so don't book the holiday. If you have any concerns about a website being fake report it to Action Fraud the UK's national fraud reporting centre.
When possible, pay using your credit card this gives some financial protection over other methods. Your holiday or travel company may charge a fee for credit card payments.
Do not reply to emails from companies or people you don't recognise. If you're renting a private villa or apartment, call the owner/agent directly to be sure it is legitimate. Check reviews on TripAdvisor or similar sites.