Public transport services across the UK have been hit by a wave of scams offering free seasonal bus passes.
Cardiff bus warned the public about a scam operating on Facebook which promised free travel, pretending to be affiliated with the ‘IFF’ travel card that Cardiff Bus uses for paying for journeys in advance.
Users are encouraged to click a link which claims to offer people six months free travel in Cardiff.
Brighton and Hove buses, operating across Sussex and Kent, also noticed scammers offering the same fake deal for its own bus services.
The company released a statement saying: “This is not a genuine offer, we urge you not to click on any links or provide any personal data.
“Some posts may contain images that may look like products from Metrobus and Brighton & Hove Buses such as ‘keycard’.
“If you see an offer like this please do not click on any links and report the post in the usual way.”
They also asked customers to report any suspicious posts.
Multiple social media accounts and sponsored posts have promoted the scam. Some posts may contain images that look like products from the company.
Managing director Ed Wills said “scams are becoming a big issue for everyone” and added that any offers would only be shared through the company’s official social media channels and websites.
This is the second time Brighton and Hove Buses have been targeted by criminals this year, as they warned passengers of a similar scam offering a free yearly pass in July.
Sussex Police is urging the public to follow its “golden rules” to help prevent fraud.
These guidelines include being cautious of any offers that seem “too good to be true” and avoiding immediate commitments.