Travelers seeking affordable summer holiday deals have been warned about a rise in booking scams.
Booking.com reported a 900% surge in travel fraud over 18 months last year, partly driven by advancements in AI.
Action Fraud has also released figures showing a marked rise in holiday scams, with 6,457 reports in 2022 and 2023, with losses of over £15.3 million.
The company warned that at this time of year, criminals will be seeking to take advantage of people looking for cheap holidays.
Single mother Natasha Shek fell victim to a scam after booking a property in Cornwall, paying £280 as a deposit to someone she believed was the property owner.
However, the man eventually stopped replying and her family were left with nowhere to stay a week before their holiday.
She told the BBC: “I suddenly died inside, because we had a week to go and we had nowhere booked.
“My heart sank and I just felt so disappointed with myself. It was the fact that I had fallen victim to a scam.”
She reported it to the police, successfully managing to get her money back and also booked alternative accommodation.
Det Supt Gary Miles, Head of the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau at the City of London Police, said: “We know that at this time of year, people will be looking out for the best holiday deals and this means criminals will be seeking to take advantage.
“Before booking a holiday online, make sure you do your research and only use official or well-known holiday booking websites – look out for the ABTA and ATOL logos before clicking,” he said.
“Stay vigilant when using online marketplace or social media platforms when looking for a holiday deal – those offering a cheaper or unrealistic price could be criminals intent on stealing from you.
He advised paying with a credit card and to avoid paying by bank transfer.
“Make sure you report any adverts on social media platforms or online marketplaces that look suspicious,” he said.
Martin Richardson, senior partner at National Fraud Helpline, said: ‘These holiday booking scams are particuarly upsetting as it often means that people then can’t afford a holiday at all.’
Find more information on here on how to avoid falling victim to a Holiday Scam and what to do if you are defrauded.
Have you lost money to a scam? Contact National Fraud Helpline. Call 0333 0033218 or fill out our Claim Form.