The number of holiday-related scams increased by a third in the year to March 2022. In addition, flight booking fraud was 13% higher than in 2021, with victims, on average, lose 000 3,000, based on the cases reported to Lloyds Bank. There has been an even greater increase in the number of hotel-related scams, by 18%, with consumers typically losing 200 1,200. Vacation package fraud also increased by a similar amount, with an average loss of 2. 2,300. The largest increase came from caravan-related scams, with the number more than doubling. However, the average amount lost in each case was much lower at 4 374. The rise in holiday booking fraud is the latest development in what has been described as a national “fraud epidemic”. The end of Covid’s travel rules has resulted in them booking holidays, but Liz Ziegler, director of fraud prevention at Lloyds Banking Group, said consumers should not “let go of their vigilance.” “If it looks too good to be true, it’s almost certain.” Subscribe to the daily Business Today email or follow the Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk Many of the scams started with fake ads on search engines or social media, with victims clicking on a link that appeared to take them to a genuine website. Scammers also lurked on real estate listing sites before convincing victims to transfer cash directly rather than through the platform. Other tactics include sending offers by email or text message, pretending to come from a real company, the report said. “Scammers are ready to cash in on any last minute bookings,” Ziegler said. “Book directly on reputable websites or travel agents, avoid following social media links, and always pay with a card for added protection.” Travelers are advised to look for holiday companies that offer Abta or Atol protection. Lloyds said the safest way to pay for a vacation was with a debit or credit card. If a website or company wants you to pay in another way, such as directly to a bank account or bank transfer, it could be a scam and it will be more difficult for you to get your money back.
