The travel scams that are costing Brits thousands each year – and how to avoid them
FRAUD experts have warned holidaymakers to be on the lookout for scams that could cost them thousands online when booking holidays.
With the cost of travel rising everywhere, finding a deal online can be really difficult, which scammers will try and take advantage of.
Therefore it’s always best to be wary about which companies you’re booking with and where you found any deals on the internet.
From 2021/22 there alone there were more than 4,244 reports of travel related fraud in the UK with victims losing an average of £1,868.
Experts at Proxyrack have seen a lot of different scams and have revealed how you can protect yourself when booking your next holiday.
Thoroughly check the website’s URL
Scam travel websites often replicate reputable companies using spoofing tricks, such as adding or removing an extra letter in the address, or using http:// rather than https:// in the hope that consumers won’t notice.
Most internet browsers are pretty good at informing you when a website is secure, but do double-check that the URL is correct – especially at the checkout stage.
Avoid clicking on email links
Unsolicited promotional emails can appear legitimate, but may include click-through links to fake websites designed to capture credentials.
Avoid clicking on links sent via email with travel promotions like free airline tickets, frequent flyer points or warnings that there is an issue with your booking, as these are commonly used by scammers.
Look out for social media advertisements scams
Fake competition adverts on social media have also been known to defraud holidaymakers out of a fee to secure a holiday.
Always double-check the account behind these advertisements by looking for the blue checkmark next to the account name which will let you know that the account is genuine.
Be sure to report any fraudulent activity so others don’t get caught out.
Don’t be rushed into booking
Scammers frequently use language that makes travellers believe the offer is time limited, to entice them to pay before researching the company.
But, if a travel website is defrauding people, there is a high chance other consumers will have posted details of their experience, so be sure to verify the company’s legitimacy before making any purchases.
Don’t just rely on one review – do a thorough online search to ensure the company is credible, especially when using third party websites.
Arianna Bago, Fraud Analyst, at Proxyrack said: Nowadays travel planning starts on the internet.
“However, each year fraudsters target unsuspecting travellers, conning them out of millions of pounds.
“As scammers use increasingly sophisticated methods to target times of the year when they know people will be looking for good deals, online travel shoppers need to be vigilant.”
There are also a number of scams to look out for while abroad, including fake taxi drivers and fake police officers.
Meanwhile, tourists in Rome have warned about a photo scam that they say cost them more than £400.
And this travel influencer revealed another scam involving art forcing tourists to part ways with their money.