More and more of us are falling for a range of holiday and travel scams.
A new report compiled by the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau showed scammers stole £11.5 million from unsuspecting travellers in 2015 –up a staggering 425% compared to 2014.
Cases spike in the summer months and December, which suggests that fraudsters are homing in on holidaymakers and people making last-minute arrangements for Christmas. The most commonly-targeted age group is 30-49, many of whom will have young families, the report found.
Victims lose nearly £3,000 on average, with almost half of them (44%) saying that the fraud also had a significant impact on their health.
Common holiday scams to watch out for
Be extra careful when booking these as they're prime targets for fraudsters.
Holiday accommodation
Scammers are adept at making up fake websites which look astonishingly like the real thing. They also hack into legitimate accounts and post fake adverts on websites and social media.
Airline tickets
These cases involve customers booking a flight and receiving a fake ticket or paying for a ticket that just doesn’t turn up.
Last year, flights to Nigeria, India and Pakistan were heavily targeted, suggesting that those visiting friends and family are more vulnerable.
Sports and religious trips
Tickets with limited availability are a magnet for fraudsters because of the higher prices they can grab. Experts predict that both the European Football Championships in France and the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will be major draws for scammers.
Timeshares and holiday clubs
Victims lose between £9,000 and £35,000 each to timeshare and holiday club fraud, making up over a quarter (26%) of the total reported amounts lost.
How to avoid becoming a victim of travel fraud
Now that we’re coming up to peak holiday season, it’s vital that you stay sharp when booking that holiday.
City of London Police Commander Chris Greany, Police National Coordinator for Economic Crime, said:
“We live in a world where we are under pressure to get things done quickly. However, when booking a holiday it is vitally important you take your time and follow a number of basic checks designed to protect you from falling victim to a fraud.”
Do some thorough research on companies you don’t recognise before you confirm any arrangements. Start by checking the company’s credentials – if it’s defrauding people, victims will likely have posted their story online or contacted the press.
Look for the ABTA or ATOL logo to confirm that the company is legitimate. You can verify membership on their respective websites.
Even though it’s quick and easy, don’t pay direct into the owner’s bank account. It’s much more difficult to trace and retrieve your funds, similar to paying in cash.
Try and pay by credit card if you can – transactions over £100 will likely be covered by your credit card provider under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
Study receipts, invoices and small print, and be very wary of companies that don’t provide any at all. If you’re booking through a holiday club or timeshare, ask a solicitor to comb through the documentation before signing up.
As always, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You can find more information about how to stay safe when booking or researching travel online at Get Safe Online and report anything suspicious to Action Fraud.
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