Holidaymakers increasingly are being targeted by scammers with losses averaging £765 or 4% more than last year, according to new research by Lloyds Bank.
Travellers looking for cheap flights are one of the groups most at risk said the bank, with people attracted to websites offering cheap deals many of which are fake.
Ads for these offers often come with a tagline that the seller has a ticket they can no longer use, the report noted.
A fee is asked to change the name on the ticket and that is usually the last the victim hears after the money has been sent.
People affected by holiday scams tend to be aged 35-44 (27%) said Lloyds, which urged vigilance when looking for a holiday bargain.
According to Lloyds, nearly half of holiday scams start on Facebook Marketplace (49%), with fraudsters also using Airbnb and Booking.com.
Holiday purchase scams have risen 7% over the past year, it added including fake addresses or people turning up to places that have already been legitimately rented out.
Caravan sales also are a favourite for scammers with pictures of vehicles for sale often ‘catfished’ or lifted from other legitimate websites.
Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds Bank, said "Always book through a trusted retailer" especially if a deal looks to good to be true
"When it comes to booking stays, always use your card and don't be fooled by hosts asking you to ignore the website's rules and transfer money directly to them," Ziegler said.