Holiday scams are on the up and up and increased by almost a fifth last year.
Experts are warning that summer scams come in many disguises and to be cautious at all times, if a deal seems too good to be true it probably is. Action-Fraud recently commented that bigger scams are been posed by so called fake companies offering counterfeit airline tickets, online accommodation and non-existent timeshares.
Students are also amongst the unfortunate who are being targeted, offering them a variety of job scams during their summer holidays, hitting social media to lure them and catch them out with fake and false promises, these include festivals tickets, sporting events and famous named artists which usually rule the summer calendar.
Please follow these seven steps to try to protect yourself:
- Always start with a reputable website:
For example, when searching for flights and accommodation, look for the ABTA or ATOL affliction, websites with these afflictions usually safeguard it more and make it more difficult for the scammers to take advantage.
- It is paramount that you research the website address:
It is common for these scammers to create false websites or even clone them with a slightly similar address – example, correct address is co.uk, however they will adapt this to .com.
- You must do a thorough check of the company you are booking through: Check the company’s credentials if you are making a reservation for accommodation. Search online for reviews, if customers have had issues or problems with the company, there are sure to be records of this online.
Again, we at TCA cannot stress enough the importance that you should check travel companies are members of a reputable trade body like ABTA.
If it’s a private booking and an individual is offering their holiday home as accommodation, check how long they have been a member of the website and search for reviews of the accommodation offered.
- Too good to be true:
If you come across tickets for an event which has been advertised as sold-out and for a knock-down price on a resale site, then alarm bells should start ringing. As they should if work is being offered to you during summer where you get paid for doing nothing, or at least very little, then yes you are likely to be signing up for a scam.
- Payment…Be careful how you pay:
Cash should never be transferred directly into someone’s account. Should something go wrong there is no way of tracing it. The best advice is to pay by credit card or PayPal, this gives you additional protection if something goes wrong.
- Always check your paperwork:
Paperwork should always be supplied, if it isn’t then this should cause reason for concern about the company you’re dealing with. When the paperwork is received, check the terms and conditions very carefully.
- Never be afraid to ask questions:
If you are looking for summer work and the job description is very imprecise and includes key phrases like ‘work from the comfort of your own home’ or ‘do you want to earn lots of money’. Ask plenty of questions, and do not divulge any personal details until you are confident that the job itself is legitimate. If in doubt, walk away and look for work in the real world. It’s just not worth taking a risk.
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk