Holidaymakers victimized by flight scams lose nearly £3,000 on average

Holidaymakers victimized by theft scams lose almost £3,000 on average, according to analysis by a customer data bank.

The volume of holiday booking scams has risen by a third (33%) in the past year, Lloyds Bank said following in-depth analysis.

The average amount lost to a theft scam was £2,955, with victims of package holiday scams losing an average of £2,342. Victims of hotel-related scams typically lost £1,231.

And with many people opting for UK-based stays over the past year, Lloyds said scams linked to people booking short stays in caravans have jumped 108 per cent over the past 12 month. The average amount lost was £374.

Many scams start with fake search engine or social media ads, Lloyds said.

Victims often click on a link that takes them to a website and think they are dealing with a legitimate company.

Some scammers lurk on real hosting sites, convincing victims to transfer money directly rather than through the official platform.

Commenting on the research, Liz Ziegler, director of fraud prevention at Lloyds Bank, said: ‘Now that most pandemic restrictions have ended, many of us will be looking forward to a more traditional summer holiday this year.

“But with demand soaring and prices rapidly rising, would-be holidaymakers can’t afford to let their guard down when looking for the best deals.”

“Scammers are ready to take advantage of any last-minute surge in bookings, so it’s essential consumers know how to stay safe.

“Book directly with trusted sites or travel agencies, avoid following social media links and always pay by card for the greatest protection. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it is almost certainly the case.