Scams

A new survey has found the most common holiday scams abroad that UK tourists have fallen for – and the average amount they’ve been ripped off for is £200

More than a fifth of holidaymakers have fallen victim to tourist traps while travelling abroad, losing an average of £200. Over half (52%) believe popular overseas holiday destinations are getting worse year on year when it comes to fleecing visitors.

The survey of 2,000 holidaymakers revealed that 27% have knowingly been ripped off or overcharged while on holiday. The most widespread scams include overpriced food and drinks at tourist hotspots, taxi rides, hidden fees when paying by card, being charged more than locals at restaurants, and bogus tour guides.

The research was commissioned by eSIM platform Airalo, which provides mobile data coverage across more than 200 destinations worldwide.

Matteo Papa, growth director (Europe & CIS), said: “Falling victim to a tourist trap can put a dampener on, and in some cases a financial strain on, a dream holiday.

“While some traps can seem harmless at first, the costs can quickly add up and leave travellers feeling frustrated or out of pocket.”

“Doing a little research before you travel, checking reviews, and staying connected while you’re on the go can help holidaymakers make more informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.

“Being aware of the most common rip-off tactics in your destination can go a long way towards helping you enjoy a smoother, more stress-free trip.”

The research revealed that having dependable internet access makes 69% feel safer when travelling overseas, with 21% typically ‘always’ connected to the internet or mobile data while on holiday.

For 46%, without internet access they are unable to contact friends or family, while others would be unable to navigate unfamiliar areas (40%), or access tickets and bookings (29%).

Half of holidaymakers are now more careful when spending money or booking activities abroad compared to five years ago.

To avoid being ripped off while on holiday, 50% have avoided carrying large amounts of cash, while 37% have only used licensed taxis or ride-hailing apps.

Airalo launched an activation in London, creating a ‘Tourist Trap’ featuring overpriced croissants with the price tag of €15 to alert passers-by to the pitfalls faced on holiday.

To help holidaymakers dodge extra costs this summer, the brand is offering new users 20% off sitewide data plans with the code ‘CROISSANT’, ensuring travellers stay connected and protected.

A spokesperson for the brand added: “Even seasoned travellers can be caught out when they’re unfamiliar with local customs, prices, or payment methods.

“Taking a few simple precautions before and during your trip can make a real difference, helping you feel more confident when making purchases or booking experiences.

“Ultimately, being prepared means you can spend less time worrying about unexpected costs and more time enjoying everything your destination has to offer.”

TOURIST TRAPS HOLIDAYMAKERS HAVE EXPERIENCED ABROAD:

1. Food, drinks, and merchandise sold at inflated prices because of a location’s captive audience
2. Overpriced taxi rides or taxi drivers taking deliberately longer routes to increase the fare
3. Hidden charges while eating out (e.g. paying for ‘complimentary bread’ left on the table)
4. Expensive local souvenirs which turn out to be cheaply mass-produced
5. Being charged more than a local would be in a restaurant
6. Card machines or ATMs secretly applying large hidden conversion fees
7. ‘Free’ gifts or bracelets which later require payment
8. Tour guide rip-offs (i.e. paying a premium for a low-quality tour)
9. Tourist photo scams (e.g. being charged unexpectedly for photos)
10. Paying for unsolicited ‘help’ with luggage at airports or train stations

Customers are being sent emails that explain everything they need to be aware of

Sky is sending emails out to customers with a message about ‘security’. In the UK, Sky serves more than 25 million people, about 36% of all households. Sky Broadband boasts nearly 5.8 million active users and employs around 20,000 people across the UK.

In a new email delivered to its customers, the connectivity company reminded people about the importance of watching out for scammers. It said: “At Sky, we’re committed to helping you keep your account secure. So, we wanted to give you some tips on how to stay vigilant.”

Urging customers to stay safe and explaining what steps to take, Sky added: “Sometimes, scammers pretend to be trusted brands so that they can try to trick you into sharing your personal information or even placing an order they may ask you to send on to them when it arrives.

“If you’re unsure about a call, text or any other message, end the conversation. Head to the My Sky app or sky.com to see if anything looks wrong — be sure to check your account details and your recent orders.”

For customers who receive calls, texts and WhatsApp messages, Sky advises “stay vigilant”. It says: “Fraudsters can sound convincing, especially if they rush you, pressure you, or offer a deal that seems too good to be true.”

Remembering the following information “will help you stay in control”

• Sky will never ask for the password you use to sign into the My Sky app or sky.com
• Ask you to place an order on our website while on the phone with you.
• Tell you to share your screen on any device.
• Ask you to read out your full payment card details (unless you contacted us first).
• Pressure you into making decisions.

Sky says it always sends texts “from Sky”, adding: “Be cautious of other senders claiming to be us.” The company also says it will always give you the option to hang up and contact the customer service team if you’re unsure.

It added: “Use our verified Sky UK WhatsApp Business account — look for the blue tick. Remember, if anyone contacts you unexpectedly, sounds urgent, or asks for details, stop and take a moment.”

In terms of deliveries, Sky urges customers to be aware that if someone asks to return items they weren’t expecting to receive, or pressures them to return something using a QR code or courier. It says: “If you ever need to return Sky equipment, always use Sky’s official returns process.”

For more info, head to sky.com/returns. To find out more about how to protect yourself from scams, visit: sky.com/scamsafe.

What to do if you think you’re a victim of a scam

If you believe you’ve fallen victim to a scam, reach out to your bank right away if you shared any money or personal information. After that, make sure to report the incident to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre. You can do this by calling 0300 123 2040 or by visiting the Action Fraud website. It’s important to act quickly to protect yourself.

Holidaymakers have been advised to carry out amateur detective work to ensure they do not book into fake accommodation this summer, as research showed a third of travellers had seen an increase in potential travel scams on social media.

Consumer experts have urged holidaymakers to do a reverse image search on photographs of holiday homes and check their locations on an online map to verify they are real.

People may be booking in a hurry this year as many have left it later than usual because of uncertainty around the impact of the Iran war, increasing the risk of falling victim to an online or telephone scam.

Some of those caught up in flight cancellations and delays at the start of the Iran war have already been victims of scams.

As well as fake holiday accommodation or flights, people may also be offered tours that do not exist, while scammers sometimes copy photographs from legitimate websites and often ask for bank transfers.

George Ralchev, head of risk at payment service provider emerchantpay, which commissioned the research, said holidaymakers were being targeted by social media scammers “looking to take advantage of the peak travel season”.

Seven in 10 people said they were wary of promotional emails related to holidays because of potential scams, according to the survey carried out by Opinium in May among 2,000 people in the UK.

Two-fifths of holidaymakers said they changed their behaviour while on holiday because of financial safety concerns.

Half now prefer to book holidays with online or high street travel businesses if they clearly explain how they are protecting consumers from fraud.

One woman scammed out of £6,500 while trying to book a Greek holiday villa previously told the Guardian that she had begged her bank to halt the money transfer, only to be told by staff that there was nothing they could do.

To help avoid scams, people could do research to check that a destination actually exists, look for independent reviews and check website links, emerchantpay said.

Holidaymakers may also want to check whether the company involved is a member of Abta, a trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry.

People booking package deals with a flight could also check if they are covered under the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (Atol) financial protection scheme.

Lisa Webb, consumer law expert at the consumer group Which?, said the findings were “sadly unsurprising” and reflected its own research that social media firms were “failing to take meaningful action to tackle the flood of scams on their platforms”.

Webb said: “The onus should not fall on consumers, but there are ways to help you spot fake holiday listings – such as using a reverse image search to check for stolen images or checking the property’s location on an online map to see that it exists.”

She advised travellers to book through trusted channels and avoid paying by bank transfer for anything advertised on social media. Anyone who thinks they have lost money to a holiday booking scam should contact their bank immediately and report it to Report Fraud or Police Scotland.

According to separate research from Which? undertaken in the summer of 2024 and spring 2025 on Booking.com reviews, hundreds of people complained that they had paid for accommodation that did not exist. Booking.com provided a detailed response at the time and said cybersecurity was a top priority. Expedia customers were also targeted in 2024.