New research from Booking.com reveals that holidaymakers are increasingly vulnerable to scams, with one in four (25%) admitting they lower their guard while travelling. The warning comes as 6.6 million British holidaymakers are said to be at risk, with the mantra to “switch off” from work turning to keeping “scam radar” firmly on while travelling.
Amy Hart shares her scam experience
Former Love Islander Amy Hart has revealed she is one of countless Brits to have fallen victim to a scam on holiday. Having been a victim of a sophisticated scam herself, she is urging Brits to spot the red flags.
Amy said, “Holidays are something we all look forward to, and it's easy to get caught up in the excitement. From my own experience, I know just how genuine a scam can appear at first, and how horrible it feels when you later realise things weren’t as they seemed.”
Advice for travellers
Amy advises that scam risk “shouldn’t make anyone fearful or take the enjoyment out of travelling.” She continued: “It’s simply about taking that extra moment to pause and keeping your scam radar on. Read reviews carefully, look twice at deals that seem too good to be true and trust your instincts. A few simple checks can help you travel with confidence and focus on enjoying your holiday.”
Despite these risks, travellers are taking steps to protect themselves, with almost half (45%) saying they make an effort to learn about the scams to watch out for before travelling.
Gen Z most at risk
While many assume younger travellers are the safest pair of hands online, the data tells a different story: Gen Z are currently the most at-risk group, with 32% falling victim to travel fraud compared to 18% of millennials. This trend may be linked to their digital habits, with many Gen Z travellers following social media links and failing to verify URLs when booking.
Interestingly, Gen Z are the second most confident generation when it comes to spotting scams (49%), compared to 50% of millennials, with 4 in 10 of all travellers believing they would spot a scam even though 80% say scams are becoming more sophisticated.
Five tips to stay scam aware
Together, Amy and Booking.com are sharing their top five tips to stay scam aware:
- Too cheap to be real – Buy from established shops and services and check reviews.
- Know who you're talking to – Always use the company’s official apps or websites and keep communication within verified platforms.
- Choose trusted providers – Only buy tickets from the attraction's official verified websites.
- Scan with caution – Never scan an unexpected QR code in public; check the URL before clicking.
- Pause before paying – Never be rushed into a payment. Double-check who you are paying and how.
For more tips on how to stay safe online and when using Booking.com, visit: https://www.booking.com/trust_and_safety/travellers.en-gb.html
