Make sure you can relax instead of being scammed
Enjoy peace of mind on holiday
Have a read through our guide on steps you can take to protect yourself from fraud.
What to know before you go
Fraudsters can try to trick you before you even get on the plane. This is sometimes known as holiday fraud.
Holiday fraud is when fraudsters attempt to sell you holidays or tours that don’t exist. Use these tips to make sure your feet touch foreign soil.
Only book a holiday with a company you know and trust
Beware of accommodation providers that ask for a direct bank transfer
Think twice if someone tries to get you to pay outside of your trusted booking website
Use review sites to see if your accommodation is genuine
Fraudsters may also target you using
Vishing
Smishing
Twishing
Avoiding holiday fraud
Never click a link in a suspicious email, social media message or text
Never call the number given to you in an unwanted email, social media message or text
Never make a payment over the phone to a travel agent, unless you’ve called the official number to make the booking yourself
Lookout for protection schemes
When you buy a holiday from a member of these schemes you get protection on your payments. Check the name of the company you're using on these official websites:
ABTA is the Association of British Travel Agents and is the UK’s largest travel association. Provided that your travel agent is a member, your money is protected and you’re entitled to a refund if they close down
ATOL is an Air Travel Organiser’s License. If your travel agent has an ATOL, but goes out of business – you won’t get stranded or lose your money
To avoid fake websites, never use the link on a travel agent’s website to get to the ABTA or ATOL sites. Always search for the official link yourself.