Holiday booking scams
Holidays are a time to sit back, relax and enjoy yourself. But with booking scams on the rise, it’s not always sunshine and rainbows.
So, to ensure that you have a smooth experience when booking your next getaway, here are some common holiday booking scams to look out for and tips on how to protect your money.
Fake accomodation deals
Scenario
You find an incredible deal on social media or a holiday booking website. It seems too good to be true — a luxury villa at a steep discount.
Warning
Scammers can create convincing fake websites or hack legitimate accounts to trick you into paying for non-existent accommodation.
Protection
Before booking, always check the reviews. Paying by credit card is the safest option, as they’re covered by Section 75 — meaning purchases over £100 are protected.
Cloned holiday booking websites
Scenario
You receive an email or text with a link to book a holiday. The website looks legitimate, but it’s a clone created by fraudsters.
Warning
Don’t click links in unsolicited emails or texts. Scammers can duplicate real websites down to the smallest detail.
Protection
Visit the booking website directly by typing the URL into your browser. Verify its authenticity before making any payments.
Bogus cancellation refunds
Scenario
You receive an email claiming that your holiday has been cancelled, and that you’re entitled to a refund. The catch? You need to provide your personal details.
Warning
Scammers use this tactic to steal sensitive information. Legitimate companies won’t ask for personal details via email.
Protection
Contact the company you booked with directly using the contact details from their website to verify the email.
Sham giveaways
Scenario
You receive an unsolicited email, text or phone call claiming you’ve won a holiday or prize.
Warning
Scammers exploit excitement and urgency to trick you into revealing personal information or paying fees.
Protection
Ignore unsolicited offers. Legitimate giveaways won’t require upfront payments or sensitive data.
For more information on how to protect yourself from holiday booking scams, visit the Get Safe Online website.
How to report a scam
If you think you might have been a victim of a scam or notice a suspicious transaction on your Zopa account, please get in touch.
Chat
Start chatChat is the quickest way to get in touch with us.
Other scams to be aware of
Investment and crypto scams
Investment and crypto scams are when a scammer encourages you to give them money to invest on your behalf.
The investment opportunity turns out to be fake and the scammer disappears with your money.
Scammers may also persuade you to take out a loan to fund this so-called investment.
Learn moreSuspicious email, texts and calls
Scammers may use emails (phishing), texts (smishing) and calls (vishing) to trick you into handing over your personal information or clicking a dodgy link.
They usually do this by pretending to be from a company you know or trust, like your bank, HMRC or Royal Mail.
Learn moreRomance scams
Romance scams are when a scammer befriends you using a fake profile. They build a relationship with you over the course of weeks or months before convincing you to give them money.
Scammers use a range of tactics to gain your trust, such as sending gifts, offering compliments or sharing personal stories.
Learn moreSocial media scams
There a few different types of social media scams, including phishing, which is when a scammer messages you pretending to be someone you know or a company you trust to get personal information or money from you.
Other types of social media scams include fake advertisements and romance scams.
Learn moreHow Zopa protects you and your money from fraudsters
Read about the latest scams, how to protect yourself and what to do if you think you've been a victim of fraud.
Back to types of scams homepage