In the age of the internet, it’s now easier than ever to arrange every aspect of a holiday ourselves, eliminating the need to visit a high street travel agent. However, whilst this is great to help us save money and take control, online holiday bookings have become easy pickings for cyber criminals. The online booking fraud consists of a person being duped into paying for accommodation or a flight, which sadly does not exist.
A report was published last week by the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, and it showed that in 2015, there were almost 5,000 cases of holiday booking fraud. As a result, travellers lost out on £11.5 million collectively- almost a five fold increase on the year before. On average, the loss was £3000. However, the figures are from cases that have been reported, the actual amount could be much higher.
The biggest problem area is flights, where you buy a fake ticket or one that never appears. The second largest problem areas are villas and apartments which have been advertised for rental on websites.
Popular fraudulent tactics which are used include hacking into the accounts of genuine homeowners to create fake listings, so that victims hand over large amounts of money for bookings which don’t exist.
How can I protect myself?
- Consider paying with a credit card, even if it is more expensive. For payments of more than £100, the card company is responsible if anything goes wrong.
- If a flight is suspiciously much more cheaper than elsewhere, be aware. Check that the website is accredited with a reputable industry body such as ABTA or IATA.
- If you are buying flights to the likes of Nigeria, Pakistan or India, exercise caution as these routes in particular have been targeted by cyber criminals.
- If you book accommodation through a rental platform such as AirBnB, pay through the website’s secure booking system.
- Read reviews to check that a rental is legitimate, use Google Maps to verify its location and speak to the owner over the phone before booking.
- Look out for copycat websites, especially if you are travelling to the USA and need an ESTA Visa waiver.
What can I do if I am a victim of holiday booking fraud?
- Ensure that you report the crime to Action Fraud.
- If you paid for the holiday using your credit card, contact the issuer of your card.
Recent examples of holiday booking fraud:
- A teacher from Wales found the ideal apartment in Spain on a rental website to celebrate his friend’s golden wedding anniversary. He booked with the owner directly, paying by bank transfer. However, when he drove to Spain and arrived at the apartment, it was all locked up and the real owner had no idea of his booking, nor receipt of his payment.
- Several groups from the UK fell victim to fraudsters after arranging to travel to Mecca for the Hajj annual religious pilgrimage. They found a tour operator specialising in bookings for Hajj, spoke with the owner and looked at the professional website and eventually paid by bank transfer. However, after getting suspicious due to pre-trip meetings being cancelled, they found out that the company didn’t exist and they had lost their money, ranging from £1,100 to £14,000.
For more information about holiday fraud, you can contact ABTA.
