As the gloomy January weather sets in, many Britons are eagerly seeking sun-soaked escapes for the summer. Unfortunately, this is a prime time for scammers to prey on those desperate for a bargain holiday.
According to Jim Winters, head of economic crime at Nationwide, January, June, and July are the peak months when fraudsters ramp up their efforts to dupe people planning their summer and winter breaks. This is the time of year when holiday companies typically see a surge in bookings as people seek something to look forward to after the Christmas festivities.
The scammers often create convincing social media advertisements that mimic legitimate offers from reputable travel providers, luring unsuspecting consumers with prices significantly lower than the market rate. After the victim makes a payment, usually through a bank transfer, the fraudsters cease all contact, leaving the holidaymaker high and dry.
“The offer will look like a bargain, an incredibly good value holiday,” explains Winters. “They might even give you some time pressure – a ‘this is a one-time only deal’ or ‘you’ve got to sign up to it in the next 24 hours to qualify for this price’, and ‘we’ve only got x amount of tickets at this amount’.”
Nationwide reports that the average loss to people falling victim to these scams is around £3,500. To avoid becoming a target, the building society advises consumers to always start the booking process on a reputable website, rather than through a chat app, and to carefully check the URL of the site. Being asked to pay via bank transfer is also a significant red flag, as this leaves the buyer without the Section 75 protection offered by credit card payments.
If you believe you have been defrauded, it is crucial to contact your bank immediately and then report the incident to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.
