Holidaymakers eager for their first summer break in three years are falling victim to clever scammers and losing thousands of pounds.
Analysis by Lloyds Bank showed holiday booking fraud was up by a third compared to the same time last year, with victims losing a shocking amount of money if they fell prey to the conmen.
The average amount of money lost per booking was:
- Flight only deals: £2,955
- Package holidays: £2,342
- Hotel only bookings: £1,231
- Caravan short stays: £374.
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According to the bank, many scams start with false adverts on search engines or social media, which victims often click on a link. This takes them to a website and they believe they are dealing with a legitimate company. Some cheeky scammers even lurk on real accommodation listing sites, convincing victims to transfer cash directly to them rather than through the official booking platform.
Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Now that most pandemic restrictions have come to an end, many of us will be looking forward to a more traditional summer holiday this year. But with demand soaring and prices rising fast, would-be holidaymakers can’t afford to let their guard down when hunting for the best deals. Scammers are ready to cash in on any last-minute surge in bookings, so it’s vital that consumers know how to stay safe.”
