Bank of Ireland says it is experiencing a rise in holiday accommodation scams and warns consumers to exercise caution when making holiday bookings.
These scams target those booking vacation rentals and students seeking accommodation. Many rental and holiday accommodation scams trick people into paying rent for property that does not exist or is not actually available to rent.
There has been an increase in reported cases and financial losses associated with these scams compared to the same period last year.
The bank advises against feeling rushed into payments and suggests checking links from official booking websites rather than clicking on those from social media or emails.
Nicola Sadlier from Bank of Ireland stresses the importance of vigilance, encouraging consumers to “Stop, Think, Check” before finalising any accommodation payments.
The Bank is reminding customers to check their banking details prior to travelling, be alert to potential signs of scams while away and if an offer looks too good to be true, it could be fraud.
Nicola Sadlier shared: “Holiday scams can be devastating and costly, as you may arrive at your destination before becoming aware that it’s a scam. It”s really important that consumers stay vigilant and Stop, Think, Check before making any accommodation payments. Bank of Ireland customers who think they may have fallen for a scam should call the bank’s 24/7 freephone line on 1800 946 764 immediately. When contacting property owners on sites such as Airbnb or Booking.com, we have seen several cases where owners have offered discounted prices for customers to move off the site and book with them directly, which later transpires to be fraudulent.”
Preparation
- Take a minute to put dedicated 24/7 emergency contact numbers into your phone before you start your holiday
- Prior to travelling, customers should take the time to confirm their card details are in-date, so that cards are valid throughout the holiday. Customers should also save the contact numbers of their bank’s customer service line, travel insurance provider and airline helpdesk, in case of any emergencies.
- Try to keep credit and debit cards in separate locations so that if a purse or wallet is stolen, you have an alternative. If a card is lost or stolen, you can freeze your card immediately through the app or call the customer service line for further assistance.
- Make sure that you check your text messages when you’re abroad so you don’t miss alerts that the Bank might send about potential fraudulent transactions.
Using cards on holidays
- When using a card to pay, make sure it is always within view to avoid it being skimmed. Fraudsters can illegally collect data from the magnetic stripes of a bank card, and customers should keep a close eye on their card or device (if using a digital wallet) when transactions are taking place. Where possible, use physical card, chip and PIN for payment.
- When withdrawing cash from cash machines, avoid machines that are in poor condition and look out for the following:
- Be aware of ‘shoulder surfing’ in an ATM queue – don’t get side-tracked by others when using the machine and take care not to let anyone see your PIN.
- Be especially mindful if withdrawing larger amounts of cash.
- Have your card ready when going to cash machines, to avoid searching through a wallet or handbag to find it.
- Review your recent transactions on Banking 365
- Report lost cards or suspicious activity quickly – Bank of Ireland’s fraud team is available 24/7 by calling 1800 946 764 (ROI) or + 353 56 775 7007 when calling from everywhere outside Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
- Check that cards are in date and save useful contact details prior to travel.
- Keep cards in separate locations, be wary of older ATMs and ‘shoulder surfing’ in queues.
