Barclays has issued a warning to holidaymakers not to be taken in by scams when buying villa holidays.
It says 37% of villa scams, reported by its customers, result in losses of between £1,000 and £5,000.
Its research, which also questioned more than 2,000 consumers, found that in 59% of reported cases the victims were women.
It also found 36% of victims were aged 30 to 44 years old.
More than half (55%) said they would not be put off booking a holiday even if it seemed ‘too good to be true’.
More worryingly, 14% said they would still book holiday accommodation despite knowing there was a risk of being scammed and 26% would be prepared to put themselves at risk in the hope of getting a good deal.
The research also found 43% would not hear alarm bells if they were asked to pay for a holiday via bank transfer.
Head of digital safety, Ross Martin, said: "Trying to escape those January blues may seem like an appealing prospect, but fraudsters are preparing to take advantage of sun seekers at this time of year.
"We must all be aware of the risks and make sure we are carrying out proper safety checks to ensure our online security and enjoy a scam-free holiday."
Barclays has issued advice to consumers as part of its support for a national campaign to prevent fraud, Take Five to Stop Fraud.
Its advice tells consumers:
1. Is the offer too good to be true?
Do your research. If a villa is advertised at half the going rate and has great availability in peak season when everywhere else is full, this should tell you something. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
2. Do an internet search on the location.
If the villa in question appears to be advertised by other companies under another name, this may also be a warning sign. Be sure to do thorough research before making any booking.
3. Are they asking you to pay by transfer?
Scammers love bank transfers. The money goes straight from your account to theirs and then they take it straight out and it disappears. By the time you realise that something is wrong, they are long gone.
4. Look for companies that have a real location and real phone numbers.
Be suspicious of businesses that will only communicate via email and mobile phone. It is worth checking the address or even looking at the location through an online street map. Make sure you check that the travel agent and website is certified, and that your payment is going to the right people.
5. Before you commit to anything, stop and take time to think.
If it is a legitimate company, five minutes is not going to make any difference – and it could save you thousands of pounds and untold heartache.
