Avoid Fraud Abroad

Dear Resident

The holiday season is in full swing, and there are some travel scams doing the rounds.  To help you stay one step ahead of the fraudsters, here are some of the most common travel scams, and how to avoid them:  Watch out for...

The fake travel agent

Scammers will message you pretending to be a travel agent and try to sell you a deal over text or social media.

Booking verification scam

Criminals pretend to be hotels and ask customers to provide payment information to verify bookings.

The cancellation refund scam

Fraudsters impersonate travel companies or your bank, claiming your flight or holiday has been cancelled and saying they can help you get a refund.

Here are some ways to stay safe:

Make sure it's really them

Contact companies directly to check they're legit. Always read reviews of the website or person you're buying from. You can even check with Companies House to see if they're registered.

Don't be pressured

Fraudsters will try to push you into buying something quickly. Always take a moment to check the details, and if you have any doubts, don't do it.

Always use secure payment options

Criminals will try to steer you away from official payment methods. Don't pay via bank transfer or unsecure money transfer apps.

Don't click on suspicious links

If something feels off, make sure you check the link is trustworthy before you click.

Across Hertfordshire in 2024, Hertfordshire Constabulary received 5,278 reports of fraud with a total loss of £34 million.  Fraud is when trickery is used to gain a dishonest advantage, which is often financial, over another person. Cybercrime is any criminal act dealing with computers and networks.

To report an incident of cybercrime or fraud and for further information visit the Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) website here UK's Home for Reporting Cyber Crime & Fraud - Report Fraud. 

Please also have a look at the advice on the Hertfordshire Constabulary web pages here.

You may also want to rate this message to let us know if this information was useful or not or use the system to change which issues we update you about - please use the options at the bottom of this message. 

Have a wonderful happy and safe Summer

Best wishes

Simon