Flying on a Budget? Don't Get Grounded by Scammers

Several North East residents have recently fallen foul of scammers whilst booking flights. Finding a cheap flight can be exciting, but falling victim to a travel scam can quickly turn your dream trip into a nightmare. Online travel scams are becoming increasingly common, so it's crucial to be vigilant.

Here's some tips to protect yourself

Always compare the price on the suspected deal with the airline's official website. Significant discrepancies are a major red flag. Legitimate companies maintain professional websites, look for typos, grammatical errors, and unprofessional design.

Social media ads or pop-ups advertise flights at impossibly low rates to lure victims in with "Too Good to Be True" offers, be wary of prices that are significantly lower than competitors.

While some last-minute deals exist, be highly sceptical of incredibly low prices for flights departing within a few days.

Check contact information, look for a physical address, phone number, and email address. Try to contact them directly to verify their legitimacy.

Scammers have been known to post fake helpline numbers online, posing as airline agents to extract payment or personal data. 

Stick to known platforms and book through well-established and reputable registered travel agencies, check reviews from other travellers about the agency or platform. 

In the UK, travel companies primarily need to be registered with an "Air Travel Organiser's Licence" (ATOL) if they plan to sell flights, which is a mandatory requirement to protect consumers in case the company goes bankrupt.

Paying with a credit card offers more protection against fraud than debit cards. You can dispute charges if the transaction turns out to be fraudulent.

Always check for hidden fees and beware of hidden costs like baggage fees, seat selection fees, and credit card processing fees.

If you believe you may have been a victim of a scam, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.

In the UK you can forward scam text message to OFCOM on 7726 (free of charge), and forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk

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Police Scotland's North East Division covers rural and urban areas in Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City.  The division has five territorial command areas which have their own dedicated Area Commander, who is responsible for the daily policing function.  Each command area is served by a number of community policing teams whose activities are built around the needs of the local community.  These teams respond to local calls and look for long term solutions to key issues.  They are assisted by the division's Crime Reduction Unit who deliver against Force and local priorities in a number of areas, including physical and social crime prevention, supporting and enhancing community engagement and creating and sustaining strong and effective partnership working.