Which? responds to the recent surge in social media scams targeting holidaymakers

Lisa Webb, Which? Consumer Law Expert, said:

“This latest statistic is sadly unsurprising and reflects Which?’s own research that has shown time and again that social media firms are failing to take meaningful action to tackle the flood of scams on their platforms. 

“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. Always book through official, trusted channels and avoid paying by bank transfer for anything advertised on social media. 

“If you think you have lost money to a holiday booking scam, contact your bank immediately and report it to Report Fraud or Police Scotland.

-ENDS-