How to Protect Yourself from Holiday Scams When Booking Online

Your Guide to Staying Safe When Booking Holidays Online

The recent Covid-19 pandemic put a lot of restrictions on our lives and for several years, people around the globe were unable to travel outside their own country. Luckily, life has largely returned to normal and we can enjoy exploring the world again. Unfortunately, criminals are taking advantage of the resurgence in international travel and many people have been caught out by holiday scams. These kinds of scams are especially prevalent during the cost of living crisis as consumers search for the most affordable deals.

That’s why it’s important to be vigilant and always do due diligence before booking a trip.

TL;DR – 5 Ways to Avoid Holiday Booking Scams

• Always research before you click and book holidays only through trusted, well-established platforms or consumer-vetted travel agents—verify ABTA or ATOL membership if booking a package.
• Beware of too-good-to-be-true offers—fake listings and cloned websites proliferate on social media. Avoid urgent or overly cheap deals and carefully inspect URLs (check for HTTPS and spelling errors).
• Use secure payment methods and never pay via bank transfer, cash, or vouchers. Choose credit card or PayPal to afford better protection and traceability.
• Ignore unsolicited contact and don’t click links or download attachments from cold emails, messages, or ads. Always navigate to websites manually if a refund or update is needed.
• Check reviews and listings by reading honest reviews on independent platforms like Trustpilot or TripAdvisor. When in doubt, contact the property owner or host directly via official channels.

Follow these steps to safeguard personal data and finances when booking holidays online, read on to learn more about holiday scams and how you can protect yourself from them.

Holiday Scams are on the Rise: Why You Need to be Careful

A major reason for the rise in holiday fraud is the increase in people looking for bargains and last-minute deals online. Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of this by creating convincing schemes to trick unsuspecting victims. It’s a growing problem that can be financially devastating.  This is particularly important as the cost of living crisis continues and holidaymakers search online for the best prices, holiday scams are a significant danger. According to MoneyWeek, consumers lost £12.3 million to various types of holiday fraud in 2023 and there are several different scams that you might fall victim to.

For instance, scammers may clone websites such as Airbnb or Booking.com, making them look almost exactly the same as the real site. They often use adverts on social media or emails to share links and drive consumers to the fake site. Victims then book accommodation or flights that don’t exist and share their bank details with criminals.

Fake cancellation refunds are another common scam. If your flight or hotel is cancelled, you may receive an email claiming to be from the travel company, encouraging you to share your bank details for a refund. You will often see adverts on social media for “unmissable” deals too. Many of these are scams designed to create a fear of missing out on the best price, so you part with your money quickly. Criminals can be very convincing in their methods so anybody can fall victim to these scams. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to protect yourself.

Why protection is so crucial at every stage of life

 

The Most Common Holiday Scams to Watch Out For

You may come across several types of holiday scams, but these are the most common to watch out for:

• Cloned Websites where scammers create fake, but highly convincing, clones of legitimate websites like Airbnb or Booking.com. They often appear at the top of search results and are designed to steal your payment details.
• Fake cancellation refunds where you may receive an email or text message from a company you’ve booked with, claiming that your holiday is cancelled and asking for your bank details to process a refund. This is a common phishing tactic.
• Social media adverts on platforms like Facebook and Instagram promising “unmissable” deals or incredibly cheap flights are often too good to be true. These are designed to create a fear of missing out and pressure you into making a hasty, uninformed decision.

Five Steps to Protect Yourself from Holiday Scams

Step 1: Verify the Company’s Legitimacy (Check for ATOL & ABTA)

Always do thorough research on any company you plan to book with. The UK has official bodies like the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL) scheme and the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), which provide a safety net if a holiday company fails.

• Check for the official logos on the website.
• Use the official ATOL check tool to verify a company’s license.
• Use the official ABTA search tool to confirm a member’s status.

Step 2: Go Directly to the Website (Avoid Clicking Links)

If you see an advert or receive an email, do not click on the link. Instead, open a new browser tab and navigate directly to the company’s official website. This avoids malicious cloned sites and is a simple but effective way to prevent fraud.

Step 3: Pay by Credit Card for Section 75 Protection

When making a purchase of between £100 and £30,000, paying by credit card provides extra protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. This makes your credit card company equally liable with the retailer if something goes wrong, and can be a lifesaver in cases of fraud.

Step 4: Secure Your Personal Information

Make sure your personal and financial information is well protected. This includes using strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. This simple measure can significantly reduce your risk of a security breach.

Step 5: Trust Your Instincts

As a general rule, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of any offer that creates a sense of urgency, asks for an unconventional payment method (like bank transfer), or lacks clear contact information.

Martin Lewis warns of “deepfake” social media scams. Here’s how to protect yourself

Work with a professional financial adviser to protect your wealth

While this guide helps with holiday bookings and holiday scams, scams come in many forms, often targeting your investments and savings. Working with a professional financial adviser is the ultimate line of defence. As part of  our financial planning service, we can help you with due diligence and identify potential scams before you fall victim to them. Our commitment to client safety is a core part of our investment approach.

If you need guidance about protecting your wealth, we are here to help.

Email hello@fcadvice.co.uk or call 0333 241 9900.

Please note

This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.