Figures released by Action Fraud as part of a new campaign against holiday scams show that typically more than a dozen people each day are being scammed.

For those who fall victim to the increasingly sophisticated stings, the cost can be high - averaging £1,844.

For some, the losses go beyond financial - as they end up arriving at the accommodation they thought they’d booked - only to discover it’s a con.

Overall, holiday scams reported to Action Fraud took more than £11 million from victims last year.

For years, digital technology has helped customers book holidays - but it’s also a big help to the criminals.

One holiday industry insider told me it used to be quite easy to spot fake holiday booking sites - but now it’s hard. Police forces report that around half of the scams involve social media.

We’ve gathered some of the important tips here:

• Beware of cloned websites purporting to be genuine firms - these can be incredibly convincing. If in doubt contact the company on a number you know to be genuine.
• Also, don't get fooled by social media posts offering low rates due to unexpected cancellations.
• Asking for direct bank transfers is a red flag - and so are requests for high deposits on so-called bargain breaks.

https://www.itv.com/news/2025-02-24/holiday-scammers-stole-more-than-11-million-from-brits-last-year