Holiday Scams in the UK and How to Avoid Them
How to Avoid Scams When Booking a Holiday
Holidaymakers are increasingly targeted by scams, especially when booking and planning getaways. With numerous cases of holiday booking fraud reported each year, it's crucial to be vigilant when arranging a holiday online. We've gathered essential information to help you avoid being caught out by fraudsters.
Understanding Fraud
One of the keys to avoiding losing money on a holiday is understanding the different ways you could possibly be caught out.
According to ABTA, the most common types of fraud for holiday bookers are online bookings through fake websites, fake holiday accommodation, fake airline tickets, and fraudulent package holidays, especially for big events like the World Cup.
Scammers often create bogus websites or email addresses to lure holiday bookers into providing card details in exchange for non-existent hotel rooms, villas, currency, visas, excursions, or services.
Top Tips to Help Avoid Holiday Booking Fraud
Researching
- Always check for reviews from multiple sources, not just testimonials on the booking site. Websites like TripAdvisor and Booking.com provide user reviews that can help verify the credibility of the property or service provider. If people have had bad experiences, it's likely someone will have posted a warning online.
- Remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it might be a scam. Always question and double-check offers. Contact the company directly by phone, but be cautious as scammers can be convincing.
- Ensure the company is part of a trade body like ABTA or ATOL. These organisations enforce guidelines that legitimate holiday companies must follow. You can verify membership on their websites (e.g., ABTA Member Search).
- Verify the web address carefully. Fraudsters often use slightly altered URLs of major companies to trick buyers (e.g., using .org instead of .co.uk).
- When using private lettings sites, ensure they have thorough terms and conditions and check for protection against fraudulent activity.
Services
- European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) are free. Avoid websites charging for them and always use official channels (e.g., www.ehic.org.uk).
- For overseas visas, use sites recommended by your embassy or check reviews to ensure their authenticity and reasonable charges.
Paying
- Whenever possible, pay with a credit card to ensure proper protection. Many fraudulent service providers will request direct bank transfers, making the money untraceable and non-refundable.
What to Do if You've Been a Victim of Fraud
Report the incident as soon as possible to prevent others from falling victim. You can do this by:
- Contacting Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or calling 0300 123 2040
- Reporting the fraud to your card issuer if you paid with a credit or secure debit card
- Calling the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
*Content correct at time of writing and subject to change.
