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.
Enjoy the Sun and Sea without the Scams!
- 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.