Booking your next holiday is so exciting, and sometimes you just don’t expect it to go wrong. Phishing scams are becoming increasingly common and holiday companies are a prime target because if a scammer can even defraud one person out of a deposit, then that has the potential to be in the thousands of pounds. Scammers are placing false adverts on accommodation websites to trick holidaymakers out of their hard-earned money. They also use methods such as hacking email inboxes and replying to emails as someone else, in this case, a holiday property owner. They sometimes even create a new email address to pose as someone else.

Here are some tips to avoid holiday fraud.

• Check the booking agent’s web address is legitimate and has not been altered by slight changes to a domain name – such as changing from .co.uk to .org . (We would also recommend checking if their website is secure or not. Non-secure websites are a gold mine for hackers). ChaletFinder’s is .co.uk.
• Don’t just rely on one review – do a thorough online search to check the company’s credentials.
• Check whether the company is a member of a recognised trade body such as ABTA.
• Wherever possible, pay by credit card and be wary about paying directly into a private individual’s bank account, especially into a country that doesn’t match where the property or company is based.
• Examine receipts and invoices as well as terms and conditions.
• If you receive an email, check the address. Does it look normal? Are they addressing you by your name. Sometimes, scammers will use your email to address you, as they don’t know what your name is. Also, check for spelling and grammar mistakes.

It is so important to use a reputable website to book your chalets and avoid being scammed. ChaletFinder.co.uk has been a reliable source of chalets for holidaymakers since 1994. We only list chalets we would stay in ourselves and have built relationships with all our chalet owners that ensures your booking is as safe as houses.

One of the simplest steps to avoid scammers, is if the advertised accommodation price is highly discounted compared to any other prices listed online. It may sound obvious, but if the advertised price appears too good to be true, it usually is.

Here are some tips for avoiding scammers and fake adverts:

1. Check how long the chalet has been advertised.
2. Check reviews by other renters.
3. Use Google Maps to confirm the location.
4. Speak to the owners on the phone.
5. Check owners’ details on the internet.
6. Use your judgment.
7. Get a written contract before sending any money.
8. Credit card payments are safest.
9. Check the property carefully on arrival.
10. Get any security deposit back upon leaving.

We would also recommend taking precautions such as not paying the whole amount upfront, only pay the deposit. Any reputable company will only ask for a deposit to begin with. Also, check the details of the account you are paying into. If this bank account is located in a country irrelevant to your holiday, this is something to question. Ask yourself, who is the account holder – is it the name of the person you are corresponding with?

ChaletFinder never allows links or attachments to be sent via our contact forms. We have multiple systems in place to aid in the detection and mitigation of email spamming, protection against website bots from sending emails through our site and an in-house development team working constantly working on our sites.

If you are ever using ChaletFinder.co.uk and are unsure about anything, please do get in touch. Our owners are happy to take audio/video calls to confirm bookings before any deposits are paid.

We want to make sure you have the best holiday experience possible!