Holidaymakers are being warned of a surge in sophisticated booking scams as summer approaches. Fraudsters are creating convincing fake websites that mimic popular platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com, aiming to steal money and personal details.
According to Action Fraud, over £15 million was lost to holiday booking scams between April 2022 and April 2023, a 41% increase from the previous year. Summer is the peak season for such scams, with criminals targeting families seeking deals.
Martin Lewis, founder of Money Saving Expert, has highlighted four red flags to watch for. He warns that cloned websites can be nearly identical to legitimate ones, making it easy for victims to hand over card details unknowingly.
Accommodation scams are among the most common, says travel body ABTA. Criminals hack accounts, post fake ads on social media, or set up fraudulent sites. In worst cases, victims arrive to find their booking doesn't exist.
Cyber security firm Trend Micro has issued alerts about convincing links on social media to fake booking sites. UK Finance's Take Five campaign advises caution with unsolicited messages offering deals, as scammers often impersonate airlines like British Airways and EasyJet.
