Latest news with #ActionFraud
The Guardian
7 hours ago
- The Guardian
‘Your reservation is at risk': beware the Booking.com scam
You've booked the hotel and you're starting to look forward to your break when you get a message telling you to make a payment, or give your credit card details, to secure your holiday. It's come through the app, or in an email that looks legitimate, so you get out your credit card in panic and pay. As the summer holidays get into full swing many of us are primed to hear from travel providers – making it open season for scammers. One of many holiday-related frauds preys on customers who have booked somewhere to stay via the platform either via its website or app. In the UK, Action Fraud received 532 reports of the scam between June 2023 and September 2024, with victims losing a total of £370,000. It says that it is likely hackers are using phishing attacks against accommodation providers and then using the details to contact customers – sometimes via WhatsApp but often through the real platform. This means the usual things to look out for – odd email addresses, or texts, may not apply. Cases seen by Guardian Money have typically involved the theft of several hundred pounds. The global nature of the platform means it can happen to you wherever in the world you live, or plan to holiday. Regulators in countries including Australia have warned of the issue. said: 'Unfortunately, there is an increasing number of online scams targeting many businesses operating in the e-commerce space. With the rise of AI, cybercriminals are able to create increasingly sophisticated scams.' It said continually invested in cybersecurity technology, and incidents on the platform were rare. The message may say that your payment details need to be verified, or that there has been a problem with your card. It will try to make you panic by telling you your accommodation will be cancelled if you don't respond – it will probably give you a deadline to act by – usually a few hours away. There will be a link in the message for you to click on to give your card details. A separate scam also preying on would-be holidaymakers involves fake web pages which are used to trick people into downloading a malicious file that gives criminals full control of your device. The technology firm HP Wolf Security says scammers are emailing links to the pages and visitors are asked to accept cookies before they can see the full site – it is when they press 'accept' that the file downloads. A payment, or credit card details which the scammers say will just be used to pre-authorise or verify the card before your stay. They then charge it. Try not to panic about your holiday and don't respond until you've checked the message is genuine. advises: 'Always double-check the property's payment policies listed on the booking page or in your confirmation email. If there is no pre-payment policy or deposit requirement outlined, but you're asked to pay in advance to secure your booking, it is likely a scam.' If you are in doubt, contact customer service team and/or the accommodation provider directly. Be suspicious of any links you are sent. Genuine payments will be made on the app or website – you won't be sent to another site. Look out for common fraud tactics and giveaways. 'Scam messages often include urgent language and may contain spelling or grammar errors,' says. If you have put your card details into a site, call your card provider. You may need to block or cancel your card. also advises enabling two-factor authorisation on your account
BBC News
a day ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Knowsley: Council warning over scam parking fine messages
Drivers in Merseyside have been targeted by scam text messages requesting online payments for parking fines, a council has said. Knowsley Council issued a warning to motorists across the borough after being made aware of the fraudulent messages, saying the authority would never contact people by text message in relation to a parking fine. The council warned anyone who received the messages not to respond or click on any of the links within them. It said: "Contact the organisation directly – go online and use the details on their official website and report the suspicious email to Action Fraud." The DVLA in April revealed almost 20,000 customers had called their contact centre in 2024 to report fraudulent activity, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The driving agency said it had "never been more important for motorists to be vigilant and aware" of how to recognise fraudulent emails, texts, websites and calls. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Dorset Council warns of scam QR codes found at seaside car parks
A council has warned drivers of scam QR code stickers that have been put on some of its parking Council said it found the fake digital codes in car parks across the West Bay codes can direct users to a fake website designed to look like a legitimate parking payment local authority has made clear to residents and visitors that QR codes are not used at any of its car parks. It added payments at council car parks must be be made by cash, card or through the official JustPark Jon Andrews, Dorset Council's cabinet member for place services, said: "We are very concerned about this scam and the risk it poses to the public."If you see a QR code on a parking machine, do not scan it. Please report it to our parking services team straight away so we can investigate and remove it."If anyone believes they have entered their payment details on one of the scam websites they should report it to Action Fraud and alert Dorset Council's parking team. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
British banking giant issues crucial warning to ALL customers over worrying message that could drain your account
Read on to find out how to spot a fraudulent message BE AWARE British banking giant issues crucial warning to ALL customers over worrying message that could drain your account Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITS are being cautioned over a worrying message that could leave them out of pocket. A major UK bank has issued a warning on how to stay vigilant against scammers. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Barclays has revealed a key sign to spot fraudulent messages Credit: Reuters Barclays has revealed a key sign to look out for to spot illegitimate messages from a bank. One customer has contacted Barclays over social media to confirm if the SMS they had received was real. The message read: "BARCLAYS: Your OTP code to approve a debit of 3733.50 to AVIVA is 44346. If you did NOT do this call us on 0330 133 0198 Ref: BR45." The number which sent the text had a "+447" prefix. The customer posted a screenshot of the message with a caption: "Is this a legit number for you to use to contact people?" Barclays responded: "I can assure you that we would never text from a number that is +44." The bank has also asked if the customer was a client of Aviva. "If not, then this would certainly seem to be a scam text in my opinion. If you would like to make sure that your account is safe then you can certainly give a call to our fraud team on 0800 3891 652 and their lines are open 24/7 for you." In response, the customer confirmed that they had never interacted with AVIVA. Scammers frequently pose as representatives of banks or other respectable organisations in order to send SMS and emails to victims. FBI Issues Urgent Warning: Delete Scam Texts Immediately to Protect Your Information They frequently contain a link to a fraudulent website where victims are tricked into giving away their personal or banking information. If you are worried a fraudster is trying to con money out of you, dial 159 or report it to Action Fraud. Many banks have created a helpline with an easy-to-remember number that can be used to assist. HOW TO REPORT A SCAM If you think you have been a victim of a scam, you should report it as soon as possible. There is no guarantee you'll get your money back, but banks will often compensate you if you can show you did not know the money would leave your account. You can forward scam emails to report@ If you notice a website that doesn't look quite right, you can also report it to the National Cyber Security Centre by visiting You should also contact your provider and report it to Action Fraud, which will give you a crime reference number. You can do this online by visiting or by calling 0300 123 2040.
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Music fans urged to be wary of last-minute Glastonbury and Oasis ‘offers'
Music fans urged to be wary of last-minute Glastonbury and Oasis 'offers' Fans hoping to attend eagerly-anticipated events such as Glastonbury and the Oasis reunion tour are being warned not to put themselves at risk of being scammed. The Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury (Image: PA ) Music fans are being urged to be cautious about last-minute tickets for sale on social media as new figures reveal that £1.6 million was reported lost to ticket fraud last year. Fans hoping to attend eagerly-anticipated events such as Glastonbury and the Oasis reunion tour are being warned not to put themselves at risk of being scammed. The Government has issued the warning as part of its wider crackdown on scammers and online fraud. Action Fraud data released by the Home Office show people lost more than £1.6 million in scams related to concert tickets in 2024 – more than double the total recorded the previous year. Around 3,700 gig ticket fraud reports were made to Action Fraud in 2024, with nearly half referring to offers made on social media platforms. People aged in their 20s were most likely to become victims of ticket fraud last year, accounting for more than a quarter (27%) of victims, the figures indicate. Article continues below The Government is urging people to follow the Stop! Think Fraud campaign advice to ensure they are protected from scams ahead of the busy summer of gigs and festivals. Fraud Minister Lord Hanson said: "While millions of Britons are getting ready to attend concerts this summer, the scammers are getting ready to exploit the desperate search for tickets, posting fake messages on social media sites offering to resell tickets they can't use or making last-minute offers from fake ticket companies. "That is why our campaign is called Stop! Think Fraud, so no matter how real a deal looks, we all need to take a moment to think: am I being ripped off? So, let's all stay cautious, stay alert and stay protected from fraud. Don't let the scammers ruin your summer." Tor Garnett, commander for cyber and economic crime at City of London Police, said: "People go to gigs for that 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience – especially at sold-out concerts and festivals, where the atmosphere is unmatched. "But the excitement can vanish in an instant when fans discover their tickets are fake or they've been scammed through social media or resale sites. The loss isn't just financial – it's deeply emotional, turning anticipation into heartbreak. "Key signs of ticket fraud include unsolicited messages with ticket offers and deals, or requests for payment via bank transfer." Mike Andrews, national co-ordinator for the National Trading Standards e-crime team, said: "Every summer, music fans desperate to see their favourite artists at festivals or stadium tours are left distraught and considerably out of pocket at the turnstiles as they discover the tickets they bought in good faith are in fact part of a fraudulent scam. "Recent National Trading Standards prosecutions have led to serious jail time for ticket touts, which should send a message to all those who choose to engage in fraud that there are severe consequences." Founder of face-value ticket resale platform Twickets Richard Davies said: "We've seen first-hand how fraudsters attempt to exploit high-demand tours. "In recent weeks alone, we've had to warn fans about multiple fake Twickets accounts and websites set up to trick Oasis fans into handing over money for non-existent tickets." Andrew Parsons, managing director of Ticketmaster UK, said: "The safest way to buy tickets is always through official channels – if you're unsure who that is, check the artist's official website as they'll always list legitimate sellers. A lot of fake tickets we see on the gates over summer are bought on social media. "We hate having to turn fans away, so always avoid buying tickets from unofficial platforms or individuals, even if they seem genuine." Here are some tips from the campaign for buying tickets safely: 1. If you are offered tickets for something in high demand, do not let fomo (fear of missing out) rush your decision. Take a moment to stop, think, and check if the offer is genuine. 2. Only buy tickets from the venue's box office or an official ticketing website. Article continues below 3. Do not move away from an official payment platform to make a direct payment via bank transfer or virtual currency. Use the website's recommended payment methods to stay protected.
