Holidaymakers have been warned to be vigilant when booking their trips as scammers deploy clever new methods to con people out of their cash.
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) said that fraudsters are duping travellers into paying for non-existent holidays and services, using increasingly convincing and sophisticated methods to do so. Recent scams spotted by the CTSI included fake ads on social media, featuring stunning pictures of hotels and holiday cottages alongside "too good to be true" prices.
The scammers often insisted that their victims pay by cash, via bank transfer or through third-party international money transfer companies such as Western Union, deliberately making payments difficult to trace and non-refundable. By the time the holidaymakers realised that the travel deal was fake, it was too late - the fraudsters had already disappeared with their money, the CTSI warned.
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Some victims of these scams didn't even realise that the holiday they'd 'booked' wasn't genuine until they arrived at the airport, only to discover that their flight was non-existent. Others tried to check in at their hotel after being duped into making a bogus booking, but were told that there was no record of their booking.
Scammers have also been taking advantage of the delays and disruptions caused by recent strikes at the UK Passport Office, by claiming to offer "fast-track" services to travellers. The CTSI said that it had seen a number of texts and emails from con artists offering quick passport renewals - meaning that anyone who falls victim to the dangerous scam could be handing over valuable personal data as well as money.
The CTSI has now urged customers to make sure they check the URL of any website they are using to book a holiday, always read independent reviews - not just ones on the website itself - and contact the owners of any holiday cottage they are planning to book directly for confirmation before paying. In addition, holidaymakers have been strongly advised to pay for their trips using a protected method such as a credit card, debit card, or PayPal's buyer protection service.
CTSI lead officer Katherine Hart said: "Lots of people are preparing to go away at the moment and, unfortunately, there are a lot of adverts on social media advertising cottages and hotels at home and abroad with incredible pictures and fantastic prices. These bogus adverts are designed to steal our money, leaving us disappointed and without a holiday.
"As with any purchase, do your research, only shop with reputable companies, and make sure you are 100% sure who you are dealing with and what you are getting before you part with any money."
CTSI chief executive John Herriman added: "As always, scammers are quick to leap on any opportunity to take advantage of uncertainty and upheaval. The exploitation of delays brought about by Passport Office strikes are just the latest example of scammers preying on people's vulnerability.
"People work hard and save all year round for their holidays - scammers know this, but they don’t care. We can all fight back, though, by being alert, by following a few simple guidelines, and spreading the word about the harm these scams can cause."
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