Holiday booking scams: How to spot them and protect your money

Booking a holiday should be one of the most exciting parts of planning a trip. Whether you’re escaping to the sun, exploring a new city or heading off on a family adventure, the last thing you expect is to lose your money before you’ve even packed your suitcase.

Unfortunately, holiday booking scams are becoming increasingly common. Criminals are taking advantage of the way you search for holidays online, using convincing websites, fake holiday rentals and social media adverts to trick people into paying for trips that don’t exist.

Research commissioned by Santander UK and carried out by Aston University found that one in 10 people have fallen victim to holiday related fraud, while more than a third (36%) worry about being scammed when booking travel online. The research also found that UK travellers lose more than £11 million to holiday fraud each year, with the average victim losing around £1,800.

The researchers say holiday fraud is no longer just an issue for businesses, with increasingly sophisticated scams targeting consumers directly through fake booking websites, social media adverts, phishing emails and fraudulent payment requests.

The good news is that most holiday booking scams follow familiar patterns. Once you know what to look for, you can dramatically reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

What is holiday booking fraud?

According to the UK’s official Report Fraud service, holiday fraud happens when you pay “a travel agent or agency, or someone offering short-term lodging for rent online”, only to discover that “the holiday you’ve booked (or parts of it) doesn’t exist.”

Report Fraud also warns that criminals are increasingly using fake online adverts, cloned websites, bogus sales calls, phishing emails and text messages to convince people they’re booking with a legitimate travel company.

Why holiday scams are becoming more common

Booking a holiday usually involves spending a significant amount of money, often with companies you’ve never used before. At the same time, you’re likely trying to secure the best price before flights or accommodation sell out.

Scammers know this. They rely on urgency, attractive discounts and convincing websites to encourage you to book before you’ve had a chance to verify who you’re dealing with.

The rise of AI generated content and sophisticated website building tools has also made it easier for criminals to create fake travel companies that appear genuine. Professional looking logos, customer reviews and high quality holiday photographs can all be copied from legitimate businesses in a matter of minutes.

Fake travel websites

One of the most common holiday scams involves fake travel websites that closely resemble genuine booking companies.

You might discover the site through an online advert, social media post or search engine. Everything appears professional, with customer reviews, secure looking payment pages and impressive holiday deals. After you’ve paid, however, your booking either doesn’t exist or the company disappears altogether.

Warning signs

Before you enter your payment details, take a moment to look for these common warning signs that something isn’t quite right:

Prices that are dramatically cheaper than similar holidays elsewhere.
A website address that’s slightly different from a well-known travel company.
Poor spelling or awkward wording.
No clear customer service information or business address.
Pressure to book immediately because “only one room is left.”

How to protect yourself

Book directly with reputable travel companies whenever possible. Before paying, search for independent reviews and check the company’s contact details. If you’re unfamiliar with the business, search its name alongside terms like “reviews”, “complaints” or “scam” to see whether other customers have reported problems.

Fake holiday rentals

Holiday rental scams are especially common during school holidays and peak travel seasons.

A fraudster advertises a beautiful villa, apartment or cottage at a price that seems too good to ignore. After you’ve paid a deposit, or sometimes the full balance, you discover the property doesn’t exist, belongs to someone else or was never available.

Criminals often steal photographs from genuine holiday listings and present them as their own, making fake adverts appear convincing.

Be cautious if:

You’re asked to communicate outside the booking platform.
The owner insists on payment by bank transfer.
The price is significantly lower than similar properties nearby.
You can’t independently verify the address
The guest reviews seem suspicious, are overwhelmingly positive or can’t be found on independent review platforms.
The host creates excuses for why you can’t use the platform’s secure payment system.

Whenever possible, keep all communication and payments within established booking platforms, where you may have additional protections if something goes wrong.

Social media holiday deals

Social media has become a popular place to search for travel inspiration, but it’s also become a popular hunting ground for scammers. Fake adverts on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram often promote luxury holidays at heavily discounted prices. These adverts frequently use stolen photographs and fake customer testimonials to create a sense of legitimacy.

Before booking, visit the travel company’s website independently rather than clicking directly through the advert. Take time to research the business and avoid companies that pressure you into paying immediately.

Flight booking scams

Some fraudsters advertise discounted airline tickets that are never actually booked. You may receive what looks like a genuine booking confirmation, only to discover at the airport that the airline has no record of your reservation.

In other cases, criminals use stolen payment card details to purchase genuine tickets. Once the fraudulent payment is identified, the airline cancels the booking. Always verify your booking directly with the airline using the booking reference, and be wary of anyone claiming to offer exclusive discounts that can’t be found elsewhere.

Phishing emails and fake customer support

Not all holiday scams happen when you’re making a booking, criminals also send emails and text messages claiming your flight has been cancelled, your hotel requires another payment or your booking needs to be confirmed.

The links in these messages often lead to fake websites that steal your login credentials or payment details. Similarly, fake customer support numbers can appear in online search results. If you call them, fraudsters may ask for your banking details or persuade you to make additional payments. Instead of following links in emails or search results, access your booking directly through the travel company’s official website or app.

Why your payment method matters

One of the biggest warning signs is being asked to pay by bank transfer. Scammers often encourage payment by bank transfer or cash because these methods can be difficult to trace and recover once the money has been sent.

The Aston University research also highlights payment fraud as one of the most common ways criminals target holidaymakers, particularly when they’re persuaded to leave secure booking platforms.

Whenever possible:

Pay by credit or debit card through a secure payment system.
Avoid transferring money directly to individuals you don’t know.
Be suspicious if a company refuses to accept card payments without a good reason.

If you pay by credit card and your purchase costs more than £100, you may also benefit from Section 75 protection under the Consumer Credit Act if the company breaches its contract or misrepresents what it’s sells. Debit card payments may also be covered by your bank’s voluntary chargeback scheme.

How to protect yourself from holiday booking scams

While scammers are becoming more sophisticated, a few simple checks can make you much harder to target.

Before booking any holiday:

- Research the travel company thoroughly.
- Compare prices across several reputable travel websites.
- Read reviews from multiple independent sources.
- Check that any ABTA, ABTOT or ATOL membership is genuine rather than relying on logos displayed on a website.
- Be cautious of deals that seem significantly cheaper than everywhere else.
- Keep communication and payments within recognised booking platforms.
- Pay using a secure payment method wherever possible.
- Ignore unsolicited emails, texts or calls advertising holiday deals.
- Trust your instincts – if something doesn’t feel right, don’t book.

Spending just a few extra minutes checking who you’re booking with could save you from losing hundreds, or even thousands of pounds.

What should you do if you’ve been scammed?

If you think you’ve fallen victim to a holiday booking scam, act quickly.

Contact your bank or card provider immediately. Depending on how you paid, they may be able to stop the payment or help you recover your money.

If you paid by credit card, ask whether your purchase could be covered by Section 75. If you paid by debit card, ask about the chargeback process.

You should also report the scam through the UK’s Report Fraud service, which gathers intelligence to help police investigate fraud and identify criminal networks.

Keep copies of booking confirmations, receipts, emails, screenshots and any communication you’ve had with the seller, as these may help support your claim.

If the issue involves a legitimate travel company that hasn’t delivered the holiday or service you paid for, Resolver can help you make a complaint and escalate it to the appropriate organisation if necessary.

Most holidays are booked without any problems, and the vast majority of travel companies are genuine. But holiday scams are becoming more sophisticated, and criminals are getting better at exploiting bargain hunters and last-minute bookers.

The research from Santander UK and Aston University shows that holiday fraud affects thousands of people every year, while the advice from Report Fraud highlights the importance of slowing down before you book. If a deal seems too good to be true, you’re being pressured to pay quickly or you’re asked to transfer money directly, take a step back and do some extra checks.

A few minutes spent researching the company, verifying the booking and choosing a secure payment method could make the difference between a memorable holiday and an expensive scam.

Have a story to share?

Have you been caught out by a holiday booking scam or had a travel company let you down?

We’d love to hear your story. Your experience could help warn other consumers, shine a light on common scams and hold businesses to account.

Share your Resolver story

Your story could be featured on the Resolver News website to help other travellers avoid the same problems.

_____

Learn how to spot common holiday booking scams, avoid fake travel websites and rentals, and protect your money with expert fraud prevention tips.

Holiday booking scams