Fraudsters are luring in potential holiday-makers with bogus deals that are literally too good to be true.
With the summer holidays looming, Action Fraud is warning people tempted to book a last-minute break of the risks.
Some would-be jet-setters have paid upfront for their family holiday or booked a flight only to discover that the break or airline ticket doesn't even exist and was sold by a bogus travel company, who have requested payment by the preferred method of direct bank transfer.
Here are some tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of crime:
- Avoid responding to unsolicited calls, texts or emails offering holidays at incredibly low prices
- Whenever possible, pay for your holiday by credit card as it offers increased protection
- Always remember to look for the ‘https’ and locked padlock icon in the address bar before entering your payment details
- Never feel pressured to make a booking for fear that you will miss out on this ‘low price’ opportunity. If you have never used the company before, take your time to do some online research to ensure they are reputable
- Should you make a flight or hotel booking through a travel company, feel free to separately check with the hotel/airline that your booking does indeed exist
If you have been a victim of this type of fraud or any other scam, you can report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or clicking here.
