How to avoid holiday booking scams

After a report from Action Fraud revealed that the service received 6,640 reports of holiday fraud in 2023, amounting to a total of £12.3 million being stolen from holiday-goers, it’s vital that individuals take their security seriously when surfing the web in search of a dream deal. More specifically, Lloyds Bank warned that fraud related to flight bookings rose by 13% between 2021 and 2022, with scams related to hotel bookings increasing by a scary 18% in that year. 

Alongside being a devastating financial loss, these unfortunate scenarios could also lead to emotional distress - which definitely isn’t what you want when attempting to plan a relaxing getaway. Don’t risk spoiling your time away; cast your eyes over the following information to help avoid holiday booking scams and look after your financial security, home security and personal security when abroad. 

What are the most common types of holiday scams?

Holiday booking fraud or holiday booking scams involve scammers selling flights, holiday accommodation or package holidays that don’t really exist. These fraudsters can also direct unsuspecting holidaymakers to fake websites where they can steal their personal details and payment information. 

These are the most common types of holiday scams to be aware of:

• Holiday accommodation scams: Fraudsters can put up fake listings on sites like Airbnb or create adverts linking to fake websites where your personal information will be vulnerable.

• Flight bookings: Fake websites and adverts selling flights have become increasingly popular, often promising ultra-cheap flights that are too good to be true.

• Fake package holidays: Just like fake accommodation and flights on their own, fake package holidays are advertised by scammers across search engines and social media, with either part of the package or even the whole experience not actually existing.

• Timeshare scams: Victims can lose thousands of pounds in timeshare scams, which involve scammers pretending to find a buyer for a timeshare and charging various types of fees to facilitate the ‘sale’.

8 tips for avoiding holiday booking scams

So what can you do to avoid becoming a holiday booking scam victim? In addition to following your going on holiday checklist and ensuring you don’t publish social media posts that help out burglars while you’re away, you should pay attention to the following 8 security tips this summer to stop scammers getting their hands on your hard-earned money:

1. Keep an eye out for fake adverts

Many scams begin with a holidaymaker being lured in by a fake advertisement, which are sometimes found on social media or search engines. Although some of these may look trustworthy, especially if they appear to link to a legitimate website, this unfortunately may not be the case. 

How to spot a fake advert

 To avoid an unsafe purchase, or falling into the trap of a financial scam, start by finding out who posted the ad in the first place. For example, has it come from a limited company? Is there a business address you can research? What does the website look like; for example, does it look unfinished? Not only this, but you should also be on the lookout for any spelling errors, poor-quality images or dodgy formatting, and make sure to check the URL too. If, when you hover over the advert, there is a long string of random letters or numbers, it could be an indication that it’s a holiday booking scam. 

If you do believe the advert to be fake, make sure that you report it immediately to avoid others being tempted. You can do this by contacting the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) or clicking on a social media ad and finding the ‘Report ad’ option, which is often revealed by clicking the three dot symbol in the corner.

2. Never trust an offer that appears out of the blue

As well as fake advertisements appearing on social media pages and search engines, scammers can also send them straight to your inbox - whether that’s in the form of a phishing email or a text. If you do receive a message like this, be cautious as it could be someone pretending to be a legitimate holiday booking site. 

Rather than trusting these surprise offers, it’s best to do your own research into available holiday deals on legitimate, trusted websites. If you do get an email or text offering you a deal, you need to:

• Check that this is a company you’ve interacted with before – this means you’ve probably given them your contact details in the past when booking a previous holiday or signing up to a newsletter. 

• Avoid clicking on links. If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of an offer, it’s best to visit the website directly by typing the domain name into your web browser rather than clicking on the link in the email or text.

• Check the email/text for spelling errors, formatting inconsistencies, unfamiliar phone numbers or email addresses, and any other abnormalities. Always err on the side of caution and avoid clicking any links if you’re not sure.

3. Make a protected payment 

A supposed ‘company’ asking you to complete a bank or wire transfer is always a big no-no, and if this does happen to you, a scammer may be attempting to target you. In doing this, it will be much harder for you to get your money back if you do become a victim. It’s always safest to pay via a credit card, as if you pay through a legitimate banking site, you’ll have access to more rights when it comes to claiming your money back. 

Make sure that you type in the site manually, ensuring that the payment page displays a padlock symbol on the left of the URL - which indicates a secure communication link between yourself and the website - and that it starts with ‘https’. Never click a link that’s provided in an email that you think might be a scam. You should also always check the cancellation terms before booking your holiday, and keep track of any payment confirmations and receipts, should you need to refer back to them in the future. 

4. Check that holiday packages are ABTA or ATOL protected

It’s always best to go for packages that are either ABTA (Associate of British Travel Agents) - relating to rail, cruise or self-drive packages - or ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s licence) - relating to holidays that include flights - protected, which means that you will be legally and financially covered should anything go wrong. 

You can check that ATOL packages are trustworthy by locating the 4-5 digit reference number, and inserting either this or the name of the travel company into the ATOL database. The same procedure goes for ABTA packages, which can be searched in the ABTA database. Find that reference number and get searching to avoid falling for a holiday scam! 

5. Check online reviews and recommendations

Does the accommodation you plan on visiting really exist? Put your suspicions to rest by searching for online reviews and recommendations that indicate your hotel, hostel, villa, Airbnb or holiday home is actually real. A handy tip for whenever you’re visiting someplace new is to look on Tripadvisor or Trustpilot to find genuine customer reviews.

6. Don’t trust offers that seem too good to be true

Have you seen a holiday offer that seems unbelievably cheap for what you’re getting? Or is the only barrier to an amazing deal an unusually high deposit? Although you can find plenty of great deals on legitimate websites, offers that are far cheaper than any equivalent deals from other companies are probably too good to be true. Always research typical prices and deposits from major travel companies before making a purchase. Not only will this help you eliminate deals that seem suspiciously cheap, but you’ll also be able to find good holiday packages and discounts from legitimate companies after having a proper search.

7. Be aware of passport scams

Since we left the EU, passport rules have changed slightly when you travel to EU countries. Your passport now needs to be valid for at least 3 months after you leave the country you’re visiting, and your passport must have been issued less than 10 years ago. Many British holidaymakers have been caught out by these new rules, leading to last-minute panic and ruined getaways.

Unfortunately, scammers are now taking advantage of this panic. In the peak travel season, like during the school summer holidays, many people look for fast-track passport renewals after realising their passport is technically out of date. Scammers capitalise on this by making scam advertisements, texts, calls and emails that offer fake fast-track renewals. These links take unsuspecting travellers to fake websites that steal their personal details and payment information.

Never trust these scam messages about passport renewals, and never click on any links sent to you out of the blue. If you need a new passport urgently, the UK government website offers a passport service where you can pay for a faster passport renewal compared to the standard process.

8. Watch out for Airbnb scams

Airbnb has become an extremely popular platform for booking holiday accommodation, but scammers have caught wind of this and started to create fake listings to scam people out of their hard-earned cash. Prices that seem too good to be true are a telltale sign of a fake Airbnb listing, and a listing with no reviews should also raise alarm bells. 

Another less obvious sign is the presence of the host’s contact information in the listing. Airbnb scammers often try to direct you away from the platform and transfer money to them directly, which means you aren’t protected by Airbnb’s ‘AirCover’ consumer protection guarantees. Always book through Airbnb and only communicate with your host via the platform. 

What should you do if you have been scammed?

The first step: don’t panic. Although this is easier said than done, maintaining a clear head is key for getting out of a sticky situation. If you have already begun responding to a scam message, cut off all further communication immediately and block the sender. 

Next, you’ll need to get in contact with your bank and inform them of what’s happened, ensuring that you’ve cancelled any recurring bank payments. Then, report the scam as soon as possible through the Action Fraud Website, or alternatively, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. If you’ve submitted login details to a scammer, change your passwords straight away.

Protect your home when you’re away

To ensure that your holiday is as stress-free as possible, you can rely on the help of a smart home security system to secure your home while you’re on holiday. By practising safe holiday booking techniques and protecting your home with a SimpliSafe security system, you can sit back, relax and enjoy your holiday without worrying about criminals taking advantage. 

Hoping to get the most out of your SimpliSafe home security system? With our professional monitoring package, a team will be on hand to act in the event of an emergency, contacting the authorities in instances where a break-in can be visually verified on an Indoor Camera or Outdoor Camera. Professional monitoring is ideal for homeowners who are often travelling or otherwise away from home, as you can rest assured that your home is protected even when you aren’t there to contact the police yourself.

Why not get in touch with our team today to see how we can help? For more home security tips, whether you’re at home or away on holiday or a business trip, you can also check out our SimpliSafe blog, where you can find guidance on keeping your home and family secure, how to avoid Christmas scams, and how to fit a wireless burglar alarm system.