Lloyds Banking Group has warned customers to be vigilant when booking their holiday as the bank releases figures revealing online scams have risen seven per cent in the past year.

Research by Lloyds Bank found that people lose around £765 on average to holiday scams, with those ages 35 to 44 accounting for a quarter of victims.

Lloyds said that around half of holiday scams start via Facebook, including Facebook Marketplace, but fraudsters are increasingly using legitimate booking sites to obtain money from their victims including Airbnb and Booking,com.

On Airbnb, criminals will create fictional rentals using fake photos or photos stolen from other listings. They will take a deposit through the site and ask for more through bank transfers before disappearing.

Lloyds warned that fraudsters have been able to compromise the Booking.com mobile app, using it to message holiday makers pretending to be the hotel asking for further payment or personal information.

Flight tickets are the most common fake item sold relating to holidays. Lloyds said that the price increase of flights led to people looking for cheaper deals on social media and lesser-known websites where scammers create fake ads or pretend to sell tickets they can no longer use themselves.

Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds Bank, said that fraudsters are always looking for ways to take advantage of those looking for a good deal.

“Whilst legitimate cheap flights and beautiful holiday homes are definitely out there, it’s important people take steps to ensure they are purchasing something that is real,” Ziegler said. “Always take the time to think about purchases you make online, and when in doubt, always book through a trusted retailer.

“When it comes to booking stays, always use your card and don’t be fooled by hosts asking you to ignore the websites rules and transfer money directly to them.”

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