Warning over villa holiday scams

CONSUMER: Sun seekers looking to beat the January blues with a getaway are being warned to watch out for “too good to be true” villa scams which can result in victims losing thousands of pounds.

Criminals hijack the details of overseas villas, or use fake details to trick holidaymakers into transferring money.

SUN SEEKERS looking to beat the January blues with a getaway are being warned to watch out for “too good to be true” villa scams which can result in victims losing thousands of pounds.

The scams – which can happen when criminals hijack the details of overseas villas, or use fake details to trick holidaymakers into transferring money – do not just cause financial costs, but can lead to “very real disappointment and emotional distress”, the UK’s travel association Abta said.

The warning comes from Barclays, which analysed data on such scams reported to them, and found that over a third had resulted in losses of between £1,000 and £5,000. In more than half the cases, the victims were women, and 36 per cent of victims were aged 30 to 44.

Ross Martin, Barclays head of digital safety, said: “Trying to escape those January blues may seem like an appealing prospect, but fraudsters are preparing to take advantage of sun seekers at this time of year.

“We must all be aware of the risks and make sure we are carrying out proper safety checks to ensure our online security and enjoy a scam-free holiday.”

A wider Barclays survey found that more than half of people said they would not be put off booking a holiday even if it seemed “too good to be true”; and 14 per cent would still book holiday accom-

modation despite knowing there was a risk of being scammed.

Mark Tanzer, Abta chief executive, said: “Abta sees at firsthand the damage caused by travel fraudsters with the many devastated customers who contact us for advice after they find out their much-anticipated holiday or trip to visit loved ones may not actually exist. The cost to them is not just financial; this crime causes very real disappointment and emotional distress.”

Advice on avoiding scams is available on the Abta website.