SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has added his voice to warnings about holiday fraud this Summer.
Sam Rowlands, is supporting a timely reminder from North Wales Police’s Cyber Crime Unit.
Mr Rowlands said: “I welcome this call from North Wales Police Cyber Crime Unit who are warning us all to be aware of holiday fraud.
“As the weather continues to be unsettled many of us will be looking for a last minute get away but these days more than ever we have to be on the lookout for holiday offers which could be a scam.
“It really is very worrying and extremely sad to see the number of people who have reported being scammed by these unscrupulous fraudsters.
“I would urge anyone wanting to book a last minute break to take time to make sure the holiday offer is genuine so they do not get scammed.”
Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, are warning everyone to stay extra alert and do their research before booking their getaways, as new data reveals victims lost a total of over £11 million to holiday fraud last year.
Top tips to avoid falling victim to holiday fraud include:
- Do your own research: Booking your trip via a company you haven’t used before? Do some research to check they’re legitimate. Read feedback from sources that you trust, such as consumer websites. You can find a company’s official website by searching for them on Google or another trusted search engine.
- Look for the logo: Check whether the company is an ABTA Member. Look for the ABTA logo on the company’s website. If you have any doubts, you can verify membership of ABTA online on their website. If you’re booking a flight as part of a package holiday and want more information about ATOL protection, or would like to check whether a company is an ATOL holder, visit the ATOL or CAA website.
- Pay safe: Book your holiday with a credit card, if you have one. Most major credit card providers protect online purchases, and are obliged to refund you in certain circumstances. Using a credit card (rather than a debit card) also means that if your payment details are stolen, your main bank account won’t be directly affected.
- Secure your email: If your email is hacked, it could allow a criminal to access information about your holiday booking. Use 3 randoms words to create a strong password for your email that’s different to all your other passwords. If you’re offered 2-step verification to protect your email and social media accounts, always use it.
For more information about holiday fraud, click here.
