POLICE are reminding people to be safe and sure before parting with cash when booking their holiday.

Reports of travel booking fraud have massively increased nationally where people have handed over money to a travel agent, website or individual, only to discover that the holiday, or sometimes just parts of it, doesn’t actually exist.

Dyfed-Powys Police is supporting the Action Fraud campaign, to highlight to people some of the dangers to look out for and what action they can take to ensure they book their holidays safely.

Paul Callard, of Dyfed-Powys Police’s Financial Crime Team, said: “This is an increasing problem that residents of Dyfed-Powys need to be wary of. Booking a holiday is an exciting time and something to look forward to, so to discover that your hard-earned cash has gone into a black hole is obviously upsetting.

“There are key things people need to be aware of to keep themselves safe with the main piece of advice being not to pay for your holiday by bank transfer of with cash, as these methods of payment can be difficult to trace and are not refundable.”

Behaviours that put you at risk of holiday booking fraud:

• Paying for a holiday, travel, or accommodation via direct bank transfer or cash

• Entering your payment details into a webpage that doesn’t have the padlock icon (https) in the address bar

• Responding to unsolicited calls, emails or texts offering holidays for incredibly low prices.

How to protect yourself:

• If you’re unfamiliar with the travel company you want to book a holiday with, do research online to ensure they are reputable. Check whether the company is a member of a registered trade body such as ABTA.

• Don’t respond to unsolicited emails, texts or calls offering holidays at very low prices. Remember, don’t click on any links within these emails and texts, or open any attachments, as they may lead to malicious websites or downloads

• Whenever possible, pay for a holiday using a credit card as it offers increased protection over other payment methods. Always look for the ‘https’ and locked padlock icon before entering your payment details.

• For more advice on how avoid becoming a victim of fraud, visit Action Fraud’s website or call

To report a holiday booking scam call police on 101 or Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or report online at www.actionfraud.police.uk.