ActionFraud - National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre - Call 0300 123 2040

Holiday fraud

Thinking of booking a holiday this year? Make sure you take steps to avoid falling victim to holiday fraud.

Thinking about booking a holiday this year? Follow our top tips to avoid falling victim to holiday fraud

  • Do your research: Before committing and booking your dream holiday, make sure that you do a thorough online search to ensure the company is credible.
  • Pay safely: Use a credit card when shopping online, if you have one. Most major credit card providers protect online purchases.
  • Look for the logos: Check if a travel company is an ABTA, the Travel Association, member or an ATOL holder. Look for the ABTA logo on the company's website. If you have any doubts, you can verify their membership of ABTA online on their website. If you’re booking a flight as part of a package holiday and want to find out more information about ATOL protection, visit the ATOL website.
  • Stay safe online: Use 3 random words to create a strong password for your email that’s different to all your other passwords. If 2-step verification is available, always enable it.
    • Beware of suspicious messages: Be cautious of unexpected emails or messages offering unrealistic holiday deals. If you receive a suspicious email, report it by forwarding it to: [email protected]
    • Protect personal information: Only fill in the mandatory details on a website when making a purchase. If possible, don't create an account for the online store when making your payment.
  • Book with confidence: Be sceptical of unrealistic holiday deals. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Exercise caution and research before making a purchase.

For a full list of tips to avoid becoming a victim of fraud, please visit https://www.atol.org/about-atol/how-to-check-for-protection/ or https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/planning-and-booking-a-holiday/how-avoid-travel-related-fraud.

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040, or call Police Scotland on 101.