Younger travellers are far more likely to fall for holiday scams than their older counterparts despite their reputation for computer savviness, according to a new report.
Some 41% of Brits have either been affected by fraud directly or know someone who has, with those hit losing an average of £1,168. Behind stolen credit card details and phishing, holiday related fraud is the most common kind of swindling.
A fifth of Gen Z Brits – people born between 1997 and 2012 – know someone who has been defrauded or have been defrauded themselves through a holiday scam, compared to 3% of Baby Boomers, according to data compiled by Airbnb and GetSafeOnline ahead of the summer holiday season getting into full swing.
Amanda Cupples, Airbnb general manager for the UK and Northern Europe, said: “With significant demand for travel following the lifting of restrictions, we want to make sure these are trips to remember – but for all the right reasons. Airbnb uses sophisticated defences to keep bad actors off the platform, but it’s still possible to be caught out by scammers, which is why our work with Get Safe Online to equip people with the tools they need to keep their money safe remains so important.”
The companies have compiled a list of dos and don’ts for protecting yourself online when booking a holiday.
- Beware fake emails, websites, texts, and social media posts : Never click on links that you’re not expecting. These types of communications,…
