Holiday scam warning after bank records jump in total customer losses

Dr Rasha Kassem, senior academic and leader of the Fraud Research Group at Aston University, said: “Prevention starts with awareness. While fraudsters continually adapt their tactics, travellers can significantly reduce their risk by taking a few simple precautions before, during and after their trip.

“Before booking, consumers should use reputable travel providers and trusted booking platforms, verify accommodation through the hotel’s official website where possible, and be cautious of deals that appear unusually cheap or create unnecessary urgency, such as ‘limited-time offers’ or ‘only one room remaining’. These tactics are commonly used by fraudsters to pressure individuals into making rushed decisions.

“Travellers should also cross-check reviews across multiple independent sources and consider carrying out a reverse image search to identify copied or misleading property photos.

“During the booking process, it is important to avoid clicking on unsolicited links received via email, text message or social media, even if they appear to come from a legitimate travel company.

“Consumers should carefully check website URLs to ensure they are booking through a genuine website rather than a phishing imitation and should use secure payment methods, such as credit cards, which often provide additional consumer protection. Money should never be transferred by bank transfer or cash to a travel agency, accommodation provider or individual unless their legitimacy has been independently verified.

“Once travelling, holidaymakers should continue to protect themselves by safeguarding their personal information at check-in, providing only the information that is necessary, ensuring identity documents are handled securely, and avoiding leaving passports or other sensitive documents unattended.

“Bank and card transactions should be monitored regularly for any unusual or unauthorised activity.

“When using public Wi-Fi, travellers should avoid accessing online banking or booking accounts over unsecured networks, use a reputable VPN where possible, and rely on mobile data for financial transactions.

“It is also good practice to review hotel, restaurant and other travel-related receipts carefully to ensure all charges are accurate and reflect the goods and services received.

“After returning home, travellers should review their bank and credit card statements promptly and report any unauthorised transactions to their bank immediately, as early reporting can help minimise financial losses and support a faster response.

“While individual vigilance remains one of the strongest defences against holiday fraud, responsibility should not rest solely with travellers. The travel industry, booking platforms, payment providers and financial institutions all have an important role to play in strengthening verification processes, improving fraud detection and educating consumers, making it increasingly difficult for fraudsters to target holidaymakers successfully.”