When we’re caught up in the excitement of booking a break, it can be easy to miss the vital warning signs of a scam. And with people spending months saving their hard-earned cash as they dream about getting away, it is all the more devastating if that money ends up in the pocket of a fraudster. Victims of holiday fraud lost £1,851 on average last year, with July and August seeing spikes in this type of scam, according to figures from Action Fraud.
Sometimes, holidaymakers will only find out they have been defrauded when they are due to travel or arrive at their destination. Over a third of travellers aged 18 to 35 say they’ve been scammed on holiday in the past year, according to a survey for travel debit card Currensea, making this an age group that appears to be particularly at risk. Common types of holiday fraud include booking a flight or accommodation on scam websites and trips being offered on social media that turn out to be bogus.
Fraudulent social media promotions could include event tickets, package holidays or accounts impersonating airlines or hotels that ask for banking details or additional payments. Scams may be particularly effective when people are in the holiday mood and their guard is down. ATM skimming, for example, can happen where devices are installed on a cash machine to capture personal details including a user’s PIN.
And you should be wary of “shoulder surfing”, whether you’re here in the UK or overseas, where fraudsters watch you .
