UK Finance warns consumers to beware of Coronavirus holiday scams

Consumers are being urged to be on the lookout for holiday scams including fake caravan and motorhome listings, refund offers and travel deals, as criminals take advantage of uncertainty around coronavirus travel restrictions and cancellations to target their victims and commit fraud. With many people looking to book their summer breaks when lockdown ends, the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign has today published detailed guidance with information on common holiday scams and advice on how to stay safe from them.

Criminals are experts at impersonating trusted organisations such as airlines, travel agencies or banks. They will use a range of methods to approach their victims, including scam emails, telephone calls, fake websites and posts on social media and auction websites. Customers are therefore reminded to always follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign and take a moment to stop and think before parting with their money or information in case it's a scam.

Katy Worobec, Managing Director of Economic Crime at UK Finance, commented:

Criminals will exploit the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on people's holiday plans to commit fraud, whether it's advertising fake listings for caravans or pretending to offer refunds for cancelled flights.

?The banking and finance industry is working closely with law enforcement to crack down on these cruel scams, but we need others to play their part too. It's important that auction websites and social platforms take swift action to remove fraudulent posts and listings being used to promote holiday scams.

?We would urge customers to also be on the lookout for scams and follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign. Always be wary of any requests to pay by bank transfer when buying goods or services online and instead use the secure payment options recommended by reputable websites.

?It's also important to question any emails, phone calls or social media posts offering refunds for cancelled holidays and not to click on links or attachments in case it's a scam. Instead, contact organisations directly to confirm requests using a known email or phone number such as the one on their official website.

Caravan scams

Criminals are taking advantage of growing demand for 'staycations? in the UK this summer, by advertising fake listings for caravans and motorhomes on auction sites and citing lockdown restrictions as the reason vehicles can't be viewed in person. These vehicles are advertised at attractive prices to tempt people into believing they?re getting a good deal, when in reality they simply don't exist or don't arrive once paid for.

Always remember:

Be suspicious of any 'too good to be true? offers or prices - if it's at a rock bottom price ask yourself why.
Do your research before making any purchases and ask to see vehicles over video if you?re unable to see them in person.
Use the secure payment methods recommended by reputable online retailers and auction sites and don't accept requests to pay separately via a bank transfer.
Where possible, use a credit card when making purchases over £100 and up to £30,000 as you receive protection under Section 75.

Fake refunds for cancellations

The current travel restrictions imposed due to coronavirus have meant thousands of customers have applied for refunds for cancelled flights or holidays. Criminals may exploit this situation to defraud people via phishing emails, 'spoofed? calls or social media posts and adverts claiming to be offering refunds from airlines, travel providers or banks. Often emails and posts will include links leading to fake websites used to steal personal and financial information that can infect a victim's device with malware.

Always remember:

Don't click on links or attachments in social media posts or emails.
Question uninvited approaches and contact organisations directly to confirm requests using a known email or phone number.
Only give out your personal or financial information to services you have consented to and are expecting to be contacted by.

Cheap travel deal scams

Criminals will set up fake websites offering ?cheap travel deals? which are used to obtain your money and information. Websites may look similar to the genuine organisation's but subtle changes in the URL can indicate that it's fraudulent. These websites may also seem professional and convincing, using images of luxury villas and apartments that don't exist to convince victims they?re trusted and genuine. These are offered for rent, often at discounted prices and require a deposit to be made which is never returned.

Always remember:

Be suspicious of any 'too good to be true? offers or prices - if it's at a rock bottom price ask yourself why.
Where possible, use a credit card when booking holidays over £100 and up to £30,000 as you receive protection under Section 75.
Use the secure payment options recommended by online travel providers and don't accept requests to pay separately via a bank transfer.
Read online reviews from reputable sources to check websites and bookings are legitimate.
Access the website you?re purchasing from by typing it in to the web browser and avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails.

Notes to editor

For more information please call the UK Finance press office on 020 7416 6750 or email <a href="mailto:press@ukfinance.org.uk">press@ukfinance.org.uk</a>
<ol><li>UK Finance is the collective voice for the banking and finance industry. Representing more than 250 firms across the industry, we act to enhance competitiveness, support customers and facilitate innovation.</li>
<li>More advice on how customers can protect themselves from coronavirus scams is available from the <a href="https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/covid-19/general-advice-covid/">Take Five to Stop Fraud</a> campaign.</li>
<li>The banking and finance industry is protecting the public from fraud by:</li>
</ol><ul class="rteindent1"><li>Working closely with the government and law enforcement to tackle fraud through a national <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/criminals-to-face-fresh-crackdown-in… Crime Plan</a>, including regularly exchanging information and coordinating responses to emerging threats such as scams linked to Covid-19.</li>
<li>Sharing all relevant information on fraud cases with law enforcement via the police?s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau while also hosting and part-funding the government-led programme to reform the system of economic crime information sharing.</li>
<li>Fully funding a specialist police unit, the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU), which tackles the organised criminal groups responsible for financial fraud and scams. In 2019, the unit <a href="https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/press/press-release/banking-industry-funde…; an estimated £31 million of fraud, secured 75 convictions and disrupted 23 organised crime groups. The unit is currently <a href="https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/press/press-releases/banking-industry-fund… down</a> on criminals gangs involved in Covid-19 related scams, with three search warrants executed across the country in recent weeks.</li>
<li>Working with mobile phone providers to block scam text messages including those exploiting the Covid-19 crisis. 400 unauthorised sender IDs are <a href="https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/press/press-releases/banking-and-mobile-in… blocked</a> to prevent them being used to send scam text messages mimicking trusted organisations, including 70 related to Covid-19</li>
<li>Investing in advanced security systems to protect customers from fraud, including real-time analysis to spot suspicious transactions. UK Finance?s latest figures reveal the banking industry prevented more than £1.8 billion of unauthorised fraud last year, or almost £5 million a day (<a href="https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/policy-and-guidance/reports-publications/f… Finance: Fraud the Facts</a>).</li>
</ul>Holiday scams ? Online Guidance 
Background:
The current travel restrictions imposed due to coronavirus has left thousands of customers sorting out refunds; with travel firms, airlines, and holiday accommodation. This has led to increases in the purchases of caravans and motorhomes as people opt for staycations. Criminals are using this as an opportunity to trick people into handing over their money or information.
The recent cessations of trading of both Thomas Cook and Flybe led to criminals contacting people by social media scam ads and posts, phishing emails, text and via "spoofed" calls to scam them. The banking and finance industry is taking action on all fronts to protect its customers from fraud and scams and crack down on the criminal gangs responsible, but customers need to play their part and lookout for scams too.
We encourage everyone to follow the advice of the <a href="https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/coronavirus-fraud-and-scams/">Take Five to Stop Fraud</a> campaign, and take a moment to Stop, Challenge and Protect before parting with your money or information in case it?s a scam.
Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations and the police. They spend hours researching you for their scams, hoping you?ll let your guard down just for a moment. Stop and think. It could protect you and your money.
Stop: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
Challenge: Could it be fake? It?s ok to reject, refuse, or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
Protect: Contact your bank immediately if you think you?ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.
Caravan/mobile homes ? purchase scams
With the possibility of an overseas holiday in the near future if restrictions are lifted, a shift towards staycations has led to people purchasing caravans and motorhomes for use when government guidelines permit. The increase in demand has been exploited by criminals advertising fake listings for caravans and motorhomes on auction sites citing lockdown restrictions as the reason vehicles can?t be viewed in person.
Vehicles are advertised at attractive prices to tempt people into believing they?re getting a good deal, when in reality they simply don?t exist or don?t arrive once paid for. Payments are usually requested via bank transfer as opposed to using a recommended secure payment method. However, recently criminals are requesting the buyer pays using PayPal. The criminal then fails to send a PayPal invoice, at which point the buyer is contacted by someone pretending to be a representative from PayPal and receives a reference and bank account number for payment to be made into. Ultimately, the buyer doesn?t receive their goods as payment has been made into an account controlled by a criminal so customers should be on the lookout for scams.
Always Remember:
<ul><li align="left">Be suspicious of any ?too good to be true? offers or prices ? if it?s at a rock bottom price ask yourself why.</li>
<li align="left">Do your research before making any purchases by reading reviews of the site or person you?re purchasing from and ask to see vehicles over video if you?re unable to see them in person.</li>
<li align="left">Use the secure payment options recommended by reputable online retailers and auction sites.</li>
<li>Where possible, use a credit card when making purchases over £100 and up to £30,000 as you receive protection under Section 75.</li>
<li align="left">Always access the website you?re purchasing from by typing it into your web browser and be wary of clicking on links in unsolicited emails.</li>
</ul>If you believe you?ve fallen for a scam contact your bank immediately on a number you know to be correct, such as the one listed on your statement, their website or on the back of your credit or debit card.
Scams on cancellation refunds
Cancellation made by flight operators and travel companies has led to an increase in the number of people seeking refunds. However, this presents further opportunities for criminals to defraud people in a number of ways; including via phishing emails, ?spoofed? calls or social media posts/ads.
Phishing emails 
Criminals send out phishing emails advising people how to claim refunds with links leading to fake websites used to steal personal and financial information or used to infect your device with malware. These emails may appear to be from airlines, banks, travel providers or other trusted organisations using official branding to convince you they?re genuine.
?Spoofed calls?
Criminals call you pretending to be representatives/ ?refund agents? from the impacted organisation or from your bank claiming they can help you get an immediate refund if you provide them with your bank details. You may be asked to pay an upfront fee as payment for handling refund claims. Once your bank details have been shared with the criminal you fail to receive repayment and they have access to your money.
Social Media
Criminals can create fake social media accounts imitating that of the real organisation, often claiming to assist with refunds. The links contained in the posts ultimately take you to fake websites requesting your personal and financial information. However, once entered you fail to receive any repayment.
Always Remember:
<ul><li>Don?t click on links or attachments in social media posts or emails.</li>
<li>Question uninvited approaches and contact organisations directly to confirm requests using a known email or phone number.</li>
<li>Only give out your personal or financial information to services you have consented to and are expecting to be contacted by.</li>
</ul>If you believe you?ve fallen for a scam contact your bank immediately on a number you know to be correct, such as the one listed on your statement, their website or on the back of your credit or debit card.
Scams on new holiday bookings
With airlines expected to resume flights and travel companies offering discounted prices to encourage demand, criminals will use this as an opportunity to set up fake websites offering ?cheap travel deals? which are used to obtain your money and information. Websites may look like that of the genuine organisation but subtle changes in the URL indicate that it?s fraudulent. You may also be directed away from secure payment channels to ?avoid missing a booking? to pay via bank transfer or through fake payment pages. The tickets advertised may be fake or not exist.
Phishing emails may also be sent advertising ?too good to be true? offers or prices for package holidays or flights. When the link contained is clicked, you?re directed to a fake website designed to obtain your personal and financial information.
Booking accommodation:
Criminals can expertly design websites that seem professional and convincing, using images of luxury villas and apartments that don?t exist to convince you they?re trusted and genuine. These are offered for rent, often at discounted prices and require a deposit to be made which is never returned.
If you believe you?ve fallen for a scam contact your bank immediately on a number you know to be correct, such as the one listed on your statement, their website or on the back of your credit or debit card.
Always Remember:
<ul><li>Be suspicious of any ?too good to be true? offers or prices ? if it?s at a rock bottom price ask yourself why.</li>
<li>Where possible, use a credit card when booking holidays over £100 and up to £30,000 as you receive protection under Section 75.</li>
<li>Always use the secure payment options recommended by online travel providers when booking.</li>
<li>Read online reviews to check websites and bookings are legitimate.</li>
<li>Always access the website you?re purchasing from by typing it into the web browser and avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails.</li>
</ul>