Costa del scam: Beating January blues could cost more than a week in paradise

The data revealed that more than one in three (37 per cent) reported villa scams results in losses between £1000 and £5000, with nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) saving on average £1,274 throughout the year for their holiday.

To help holidaymakers stay safe this January, Barclays is issuing a new warning against the dangers of villa scams – where criminals hijack the details of overseas villas (or use fake details) to dupe unsuspecting tourists.

Whether it’s arranging a romantic getaway through a fake travel agent or a booking for your dream villa which turns out to be a non-existent nightmare, sun-seekers are set to be in for WAY more than they bargained for, with unlucky 30-44 year olds making up more than a third (36 per cent) of those affected.

Research suggests that all consumers need to take greater care when booking accommodation online to help prevent them from losing their holiday fund. One in seven (14 per cent) admitted they would still book their dream holiday accommodation despite knowing there is a risk of being scammed, and a quarter (26 per cent) would be prepared to put themselves at risk just in hope of bagging a summer bargain.

Barclays has identified that there are several warning signs Brits are ignoring when booking their holiday. Research shows that 43 per cent would not hear alarm bells if they were asked to pay for a holiday via bank transfer, and less than half (45 per cent) would check their booking is with a member of a trade body or consumer protection scheme*, leaving them susceptible to less protected companies.  

In addition, more than half (55 per cent) would not be put off booking a holiday, even if it seemed ‘too good to be true’.

Ross Martin, Barclays head of digital safety, said: “Trying to escape those January blues may seem like an appealing prospect, but fraudsters are preparing to take advantage of sun-seekers at this time of year. We must all be aware of the risks and make sure we are carrying out proper safety checks to ensure our online security and enjoy a scam-free holiday.”