How to Vet Holiday Deals and Avoid Scams

Everyone looks forward to going on holiday, and with more people booking their holidays online than ever, an increasing number of people are falling victim to scams or fraud.

Naturally, this can be devastating for lots of people who are looking forward to a getaway.

With scammers becoming increasingly more sophisticated, you have to be more vigilant than ever when it comes to booking holidays.

Below is some more information on the different types of holiday scams and what you can do to ensure that you do not fall victim to them.

Types of Holiday Scams

Below, we list the common types of holiday scams that have affected UK customers:

1. Fake hotels and Airbnb scams

Unfortunately, more and more scammers are setting up fake accommodation listings and websites online.

They are using websites such as booking.com, Airbnb, Vrbo and other sites.

They will use pictures of very real accommodations across the world but set them up under their name instead.

Usually, these scams are very low in price, meaning that they’ll look fantastic when it comes to value for money.

Often, they’ll ask you to pay them directly as opposed to going through the booking site to pay, which you should never do.

Lots of people fall victim to this scam, and a few days before their holiday, the accommodation fraudsters block you or delete any evidence of their communication. Some people even get to the said hotel or villa, and they simply have no record of your booking.

2. Booking scams

Booking scams are another type of holiday scam. Often, you’ll see adverts on social media or other websites advertising flights or hotels are very cheap.

Sometimes, they’ll even offer these as a package deal.

They will often claim that due to a last-minute cancellation,n they can offer a cheaper price. They might make themselves look like a legitimate travel agent, or they might even use the name of a reputable one.

Sometimes, these scammers have their own Facebook pages, Instagram pages and even sometimes their own websites. Unfortunately, some people get to the airport before learning that there are no flights or holidays booked under their name.

3. GHIC scams

Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) scams are also becoming increasingly more common.

Your GHIC card gives you access to emergency healthcare when you are abroad and outside of the UK. Having a Global Health Insurance Card should mean that you do not pay extortionate fees should you get ill abroad.

Your GHIC card should always be something that you can get for free, and you should go through the official websites in order to get one.

Many GHIC scammers and fraudsters will ask you to pay for your card, or they’ll offer to fast-track your application for you for an added fee.

If you do so, unfortunately, you are falling victim to a scam, as there is no approved and official way to fast-track your GHIC application through the proper and legitimate channels. Often, scammers will ask you to pay for your card before blocking you.

4. Visa application scams

Others are involved in visa application scams, where scammers will pretend to be government agencies offering you the chance to buy a visa.

This is called Catfishing. They might offer to complete your visa application on your behalf or sometimes fast-track your visa application to ensure that you get it in time.

Usually, they’ll charge you extortionate fees and promise unrealistic turnaround times to try to lure you in while still looking legitimate. Once you hand over your hard-earned cash, they’ll simply block you and cease all contact.

Things to Consider When Booking a Holiday

To ensure that you do not get scammed while booking a holiday, there are a number of different things that you should consider.

The main things that you should remember is to always be vigilant and always run your check, even if you think that you have heard of the company or booking website before:

• No holiday booking company should ask you certain personal questions. Never answer any personal questions from people or companies you do not know, especially if they’re asking personal questions about your bank details
• Some people will try to scam you in person, so avoid taking large amounts of cash on holiday with you
• Remember that if something looks too cheap or promises quick turnaround times with permits or visas, then it might be a scam
• You should always agree on prices with individuals in writing and keep the written advice with you
• You should always keep receipts and booking confirmations
• You should always do your research on a website or individual before booking a holiday with them. Usually, you should be able to find them on Trustpilot
• You should always try to book your holiday on a credit card and always keep proof of any money you have spent on a credit card

Top Tips on How to Avoid Booking Fraud

Below, we list some tips on how to avoid book scams:

1. Check if the website is legitimate

If you are booking a holiday online, then you should always check that the website you are booking with and the people you are dealing with are legitimate.

You should check the website by looking them up on Trustpilot and always double-check that the web address you are booking on has not been changed or altered in any way from a legitimate site’s website.

For example, some scammers often copy legitimate website designs but use a slightly different domain name, including changing it from .co.uk to .org.

2. Look for the logo and check it

The company you are booking a holiday with should use a logo. You should always check if this logo is legitimate and also check that they are ABTA members.

If they are, then the ABTA logo should be on their website, usually on their homepage.

If you can’t see the ABTA logo on the website you are using to book a holiday, then you should check to see if they’re an ABTA member by searching on the ABTA website.

3. Always check your paperwork

A legitimate holiday booking website will always send you paperwork, even prior to paying and booking your holiday.

You should also receive receipts, invoices and sometimes terms and conditions after you book your holiday. If you do not, then alarm bells should be ringing.

4. Check that they are an IATA license holder

An increasing number of people are scamming when it comes to flights. This is because scamming people into booking flights that do not exist can be a very lucrative business.

Usually, scammers will advertise very low prices compared to competitors. If the flight looks too good to be true, then it usually is.

When it comes to booking flights, you should always check that the booking agent is an IATA license holder. If they are not or get defensive after you ask, then alarm bells should be ringing.

Once requested, they should be able to send across the flight details, including the six-digit passenger name record, which shows that your flight has been reserved.

5. Report it as soon as you can

If you think that you have fallen victim to a scam, then you need to report it immediately.

The quicker you can report it, the more likely you are to get your money back, if at all possible.

Often, after people get scammed, it is easy for them to feel embarrassed or ashamed of falling for a scam, meaning that they do not report it immediately.

However, reporting it means that you stand a chance of getting your money back, and the police will also stand a chance of catching them.

You can ring Action Fraud for free by calling 0300 123 2040.

I’ve Fallen Victim to a Holiday Scam – What Do I Do?

If you have fallen victim to a holiday scam, then it is important to not feel embarrassed about your situation and seek help immediately.

There are helplines and support available to you, and by reporting it, you can help other people avoid being scammed in the same way.

The first thing that you should do is report it. You should provide the police or authorities with as much information as possible and try your best to recall as much information as possible.

You should always report the fraud to your card issuer, whether you have paid on either a debit card or a credit card.

Below is a list of helplines that you should contact if you have fallen victim to a holiday fraud or scam.

• Action Fraud (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland). Phone: 0300 123 2040
• Citizens Advice. Phone: 0808 223 1133
• Think Jessica. Website: thinkjessica.com
• National Crime Agency (NCA)
• Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA). Phone: 020 3117 5599
• Crimestoppers. Phone: 0800 555 111

For more information on how to protect yourself from scams in old age, head over to our website and blog page at Equity Release Warehouse.

There are lots of free online tools which can help you to avoid being scammed and become more tech savvy, such as the IT course with Age UK.