Most holiday scams UK travellers report follow a handful of patterns. This list covers how to avoid holiday scams at each stage of booking.
The listing
- Reviews: are there recent reviews from real-looking profiles, mentioning specific details?
- Photos: reverse-search two or three. Do they appear on other listings?
- Registration number: holiday rentals in most of southern Europe must display one.
- Location: find it on Street View. Does the building and street match the photos?
- Price: compare with similar places nearby. Unusually cheap needs explaining.
Watch out for fake holiday websites. Scam holiday websites copy the look of real agencies. Check the company is ABTA or ATOL protected where it claims to be, and look up the domain's age.
The host
- Ask for a video call from the property. Genuine hosts rarely refuse.
- Ask specific questions: exact walking time to the beach, whether the pool is heated, what's opposite the bedroom window.
- Check who owns it for direct bookings. In Spain, a Nota Simple shows the registered owner.
The payment
- Stay on the platform. Don't move to WhatsApp or pay outside the booking site.
- Use a credit card where possible for extra protection.
- Get it in writing: dates, price, deposit terms and cancellation policy.
Before the balance
- Have it checked in person. A local checker confirms it exists and matches the photos before you send the rest.
If you think you've been a victim of holiday fraud, contact your bank straight away and report it to Action Fraud (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or Police Scotland.