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BRITS are losing thousands of pounds to ‘bargain holiday’ scams, according to a new report by cybersecurity giant McAfee.

The cost of living crisis in the UK has people counting the pennies for their next trip away – but the hunt for cheap deals has left people vulnerable.

A concern for most Brits abroad is the fear of being pickpocketed - but there's a growing risk of becoming a victim of theft before they've even set foot out the door — A concern for most Brits abroad is the fear of being pickpocketed – but there’s a growing risk of becoming a victim of theft before they’ve even set foot out the doorCredit: Getty

A third of Brits or their friends have fallen victim to a holiday booking scam when trying to save money, the report found.

These ‘too good to be true’ deals have fooled nearly four in 10 into losing more than £1,000 of hard-earned savings.

Researchers discovered that people – now more than ever – are being tempted by booking sites they have never used before in order to get a good price.

These travel scams can come in many shapes and sizes.

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They might lure people into making payments through fake websites.

Or, they may even attempt to steal someone’s identity by tricking them into uploading their password details onto a dodgy platform.

A concern for most Brits abroad is the fear of being pickpocketed – but there’s a growing risk of becoming a victim of theft before they’ve even set foot out the door.

“Our study shows that Brits are some of the most relaxed globally when it comes to their online protections on holiday, but travel-related scams are all too common, especially amid the cost-of-living crisis when people are more likely to choose a ‘too good to be true’ deal,” Vonny Gamot of McAfee said.

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“From the moment you open your laptop to book a holiday, to when you log into airport Wi-Fi while waiting for the flight home, staying alert and taking precautions helps keep yourself and your loved ones safe from online travel scams.

“Taking early and proactive steps to manage your security, privacy and online identity means you’ll be able to more safely and confidently enjoy your well-earned break.”

McAfee has devised a four-step plan on how to protect yourself from online travel scams:

Think before you click: If you receive an email asking you to click on a link, even if the travel deal sounds great, it’s best to avoid interacting with the message altogether. Always go direct to the source and book with reputable companies.
Connect with caution: Be cautious when connecting to public Wi-Fi while on holiday and make sure the Wi-Fi is secure and attached to a trusted source. Try using a virtual private network (VPN) to keep your connection secure and protect your personal data.
Check before you book: When confirming if a privately-owned holiday rental is legitimate, check the name of the property owner in public records. Don’t pay for rentals by wire transfer, prepaid cards or gift cards. These types of transactions often can’t be reversed if the rental offer is fraudulent.
Get protected: Make sure you have an anti-virus software installed on your device to make sure that when you stumble across fraudulent websites, you are alerted of them in real-time.