Lloyds warns holidaymakers to watch out for scams – how to stay protected

As the summer approaches, many of us are planning our getaways.  

But as the bookings roll on, so do the scammers.  

Lloyds Bank has issued a warning about a surge in holiday-related scams.  

Here’s some alarming figures from the bank’s latest report:  

• Victims lost an average £928, a 21% rise from last year.  

• The 35 – 44 age group is most targeted, making up a quarter of all cases.  

• Flight tickets are the most common target for scammers.  

• Flights to Nigeria and India are regularly involved in fraudulent flight bookings.  

• Caravan holidays are becoming popular among fraudsters.  

• Facebook and Facebook Marketplace are top spots for scammers, with 42% of cases starting here.  

How do holiday scams work?  

Holiday scams come in a variety of forms, but here are the most common tricks scammers use: 

• Fake ads: scammers post false ads for holidays they claim to have booked but can no longer use.  

• Upfront payment: they’ll ask for full payment upfront or just a deposit.  

• Fake confirmations: after payment, you may receive a phony booking confirmation.  

• Disappear: once they’ve got your money, they disappear.  

How to stay safe when booking a holiday   

Here’s how to help protect yourself:  

• Watch out for ‘too good to be true’ offers and prices. 

• Research the person, company or website you’re making a booking through. Check reviews on sites like TripAdvisor. 

• Verify that the resort and accommodation exist through online maps and web searches.  

• Book directly through a reputable travel agent or established hotel.  

• Pay through systems like Airbnb and Booking.com, never outside of them. 

• Decline requests from hosts for direct money transfers or cash.  

• Check they’re a member of a travel trade agency like ABTA. 

• Read the terms and conditions in full before booking.  

• Pay attention to warnings from your bank and follow their advice.  

• Don’t fall into pressure from a seller.  

• Where possible, use a credit card when making purchases over £100 and up to £30,000, as you’ll be protected under section 75.  This means your credit card provider must take the same responsibility as the retailer if things go wrong with a purchase. 

• Avoid clicking on suspicious links. Always type in a website’s address directly instead of following links from ads or emails.  

• Be wary of unsolicited offers, always initiate the booking yourself.  

• Only give out your personal or financial information to services you trust and expect to hear from.  

Spot the signs of a holiday scam 

Keep an eye out for these tell-tale signs:  

• Someone contacts you out of the blue, offering a holiday at an incredibly low price. 

• Suspicious details about the accommodation or holiday package. 

• No reviews or fake reviews online. 

• The seller requests cash or a bank transfer instead of using secure payment methods. 

How to report a scam 

If you’ve been scammed, or suspect you’ve been targeted, act fast:   

• Report the incident to Citizens Advice.  

• Report it to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud. 

• Report scam emails to [email protected] to help stop others from being targeted. 

• Report scam ads to the Advertising Standards Authority or directly on platforms like Google, Facebook and Instagram. 

Can you get your money back? 

• Contact your bank immediately if you notice an unauthorised transaction or unexpected charges. 

• File a complaint if the bank doesn’t resolve your claim. Check their website for the complaint process. 

• If it’s been eight weeks with no resolution, contact the Financial Ombudsman. They can enforce action if the bank’s response isn’t fair.

Unfortunately, not all scams are reimbursable – some losses may be irreversible.