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Summer’s here, but this is no time to drop your financial guard. Thoughts might be turning to sunny getaways, sea views, and sandy beaches, but this is also a season when scammers, fraudsters, and criminals in general are up to no good with increasingly devious ways to part you from your money.
With that in mind, don’t let the baddies prevail, potentially spoiling your summer in the process. Whether you’re renting a holiday home or off to a major event, here are five types of seasonal scam to set your Spidey sense tingling and to avoid at all costs.
Scams are dishonest ways to gain money, or possessions, in a fraudulent way. They are often carried out online and, sadly, are increasingly prevalent.
Whatever you’re doing to enjoy some well-deserved downtime this summer, remember that scammers will not be taking a break.
Kirsty Adams, fraud and scams expert at Barclays, says: “Summer means travel, events and big moments like the World Cup. But it’s also when scammers try to catch people out, from fake tickets to holiday deals, and other online offers that seem too good to be true.”
In the age of artificial intelligence, or AI, it’s becoming increasingly easy for scammers to list non-existent holiday accommodation through social media posts and even on legitimate booking platforms.
James Bore, a chartered security professional and scams expert, warns: “Fraudsters can create realistic photos of non-existent properties, or dress up properties to look exciting, with little difficulty. Even worse, the common booking platforms are bombarded with fake accommodation adverts and may be slow in removing them.”
To stay safe, you need to do some research and keep your wits about you. For example, a reverse image search can be enlightening in some situations. This is a means of scanning the internet using a picture, instead of words, to see if it’s fake.
Giles Mason, spokesperson from UK Finance’s, Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign, says: “These properties are advertised at lower prices. It is important to remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is. Criminals may try to pressure you to part with your money quicker by claiming that you need to pay before the offer expires.”
You should also avoid clicking on links in social media, messages, or emails, and head to known websites directly.
Reading reviews is sensible as well, but don’t rely too heavily on recent posts. Bore recommends: “Checking for review histories that go back a reasonable length of time.”
Once you’ve completed your ‘due diligence’ and decide to book choose, if possible, to pay with a credit card. That way, you’ll also have the added benefit of Section 75 consumer protection, which means your card provider will be liable if the goods or services you have bought are sub-standard or not as advertised (providing you spend between £100 and £30,000).
Be especially wary, if someone asks you to pay by bank transfer.
Whether you’re booking tickets for music, sports, or cultural events, it’s important to take care and not let high demand push you towards buying through unorthodox channels
Report Fraud, the police-run fraud reporting service, says one common scam is for fraudsters to create bogus ticket-selling websites. The tickets are either fake or simply don’t arrive. In some cases, you might be told to meet a ‘representative’ at the venue, who inevitably doesn’t turn up.
Last year, the government imposed tighter rules on ticket re-selling, which means it’s now illegal to sell tickets for live events above the original price.
Nonetheless, Barclays’ Kirsty Adams says that doesn’t mean every ticket is safe. “Buy tickets through the official ticket seller, venue, artist, organiser, or a trusted re-sale platform wherever possible. Be cautious if a seller pushes you to move into direct messages or away from the site where the ticket was listed.”
When you’re booking, always look for the STAR logo, which shows that the retailer is a member of the Society of Ticket Agents & Retailers and means it should follow a strict code of practice. You will also get access to a dispute resolution service if problems arise.
Again, aim to pay for tickets with your credit card, for extra protection when you spend over £100.
A ‘holiday romance’ could end in disaster if you, a close friend, or family member ends up being sweet-talked into giving money away.
James Bore says: “Romance scams can be devastating to individuals both personally and financially.”
Although victims are often targeted online, they can also start the old-fashioned way: on holiday. Once a connection has been made and romance has ‘blossomed’, the perpetrator will start making requests for money.
Research from the Lloyds Banking Group has found that older people are most likely to be the victims of romance fraud, with cases amongst over-55s rising by 52% in just 12 months. The average monetary loss was £8,068, for people aged between 75 and 84.
Lloyds says a romance scammer will be quick to declare their love but will likely have inconsistent stories and may use emotional manipulation to pressure you into giving them money.
Bore says: “This one is a serious challenge to deal with, because someone wrapped up in one of these frauds will often reject help as they have become emotionally invested in the scenario.”
These days, we’re all getting used to scanning QR, or quick response, codes to access information or make a payment. But beware, because some rogue codes could take you to fake websites that steal your money or personal information.
UK Finance’s Giles Mason says: “QR code scams can often catch people off guard if they’re in a location that people are expecting legitimate information, such as on a menu in a restaurant, a car park, or train station.”
He recommends looking out for QR codes that look like they have been tampered with, for example, with a sticker over the original. “If you’re not sure if the website you have been taken to is fake, search for it on your web browser rather than continuing through the QR code link.”
Alternatively, you can protect yourself from car park ‘quishing’ by making sure you always have spare change to hand or checking for alternative ways to pay.
Scammers won’t just target you when you’re on holiday or enjoying a day out. They’ll also try to convince you that your family members are in trouble when they’re ‘away’.
This often comes as a request for financial help from someone purporting to be a family member or friend. The ruse might include saying a person is stranded overseas, has lost their phone, or is being detained by the police.
Pleas for help have long been delivered by text, but you may now get fake calls too. Bore warns: “Modern fraudsters will use voice generation technology to make it even more convincing.”
To outfox fraudsters, Bore suggests using information that only you and your loved ones will be privy to. “The best protection against this is to make sure that family members have distress words, or standard questions, where if they are genuinely in difficulty they can give a password, pet name, or piece of trivia to prove it.”
If you’ve been scammed, you may be able to get your money back. What happens will often depend on the scam and how you made the payment. For example, if you transferred money into somebody else’s account, your bank may refund you.
Whatever the circumstances, it’s important to contact your bank and freeze any accounts that could be vulnerable.
If it’s online fraud, you should also update any passwords that may have been compromised and, if possible, add two-factor authentication for additional security. This usually involves a requirement to input a code that is sent to you via a text message before you sign in or make a purchase.
You should also report the incident to Report Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.
Find out the warning signs and follow these tips to avoid being conned.
Find out how to protect yourself from scams that promise big returns but are really just targeting your money.
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