Exploring new countries should be exciting, but falling victim to travel scams can quickly turn your dream holiday into a nightmare. In 2024, there were 6,066 reports of holiday fraud made to Action Fraud, the UK’s leading fraud prevention service. It's estimated that holidaymakers lost a combined total of over £11 million.
This blog details the three most common travel scams and how to avoid them.
1. Fake Travel Websites
The cost-of-living crisis has pushed holidaymakers towards bargain holiday deals. Fraudsters use fake websites, ads, text messages and emails, offering heavily discounted flights or accommodation to trick you into booking with them. They may steal images of hotels from other travel websites, but really, they don't exist.
How to protect yourself:
• Watch out for unusual web addresses (e.g. ending in .net), typos or poor-quality logos.
• If prices seem too good to be true, they most likely are!
• Avoid clicking on ads on social media and instead go directly to official booking platforms.
• Always check reviews from legitimate websites such as Trustpilot, or via well-known agencies.
Action Fraud urges customers to check for official travel association logos (ABTA, ABTOT or ATOL) on the travel company’s website. Insights from holiday fraud data revealed that more than half of reports mentioned social media platforms, so it's safest to book directly with the official travel website or a reputable agent.
2. Public Wi-Fi Scams
Airports, hotels and train stations often provide free public Wi-Fi, but cybercriminals can set up their own disguised hotspots for you to connect to. The spoofed connection will allow you to browse as normal, but it may redirect you to fraudulent sites where your personal information could be stolen. Using a public network without protection allows attackers to sneak malware onto your device and compromise your data. In severe cases, the malware can give the hacker remote access to your device.
How to protect yourself:
• We recommend asking a member of staff to confirm the correct Wi-Fi network before connecting.
• Look for SSL encryption; any site address starting with "https" is using SSL, meaning that the information you send and receive cannot be read by anyone who intercepts it.
• A padlock icon in the address bar is also a good sign that encryption is in place.
• Close any site flagged by a pop-up alert as untrusted.
• Use a VPN when making payments, using online banking or logging into sensitive accounts.
• Keep your device updated with the latest software.
• Activate two-factor or multi-factor authentication for the accounts that you most need to keep secure.
3. Fake Airline Scams
Airline-related scams are on the rise, targeting travellers through fake booking websites, fraudulent customer service numbers and phishing emails or text messages. Some even sell genuine flight tickets, but add a hefty "admin" charge that goes straight into their pockets.
There has been a surge in scams where fake social media accounts are used to impersonate airlines. They respond to queries or complaints, asking for personal data or redirecting customers to phishing websites where their card details may be stolen. Customer association Which? has found bogus X accounts impersonating every major airline operating in the UK.
How to protect yourself:
• Always find contact numbers through the airline's official website, or search the number online before calling to confirm that it's genuine.
• Don't trust a text or email notifying you of a flight delay- and instead log in to your account on the airline's website or app and check the flight status yourself.
• Never pay fees for a replacement flight without verifying directly with the airline.
• Be aware of fake airline social media accounts.
Think you've been a victim of a scam?
• Block your card(s) immediately and be wary of requests from fraudsters to unblock your card.
• Contact your bank or payment service provider.
• Change your login and security details.
• To report fraud or access further advice, visit Action Fraud here.
Find out more about Currensea
Currensea is the UK's top-rated travel debit card that securely connects to your UK bank account so you can save on FX fees whilst abroad. To find out more about Currensea and our features, visit our website here.