A whopping 17.6 million trips are set to be made by car this August bank holiday, according to RAC, with hordes hoping to get away for the long weekend.
However, there’s several scams waiting to catch travellers heading on staycations in the UK.
From fake parking codes to restaurant reservation tricksters, holidaymakers have been warned to stay eagle-eyed and not get caught out.
Restaurant phone calls
Those planning to dine out this weekend have been urged to be mindful of fake phone calls from the ‘restaurant’.
Fraudsters sometimes call a restaurant and pretend to be from a reservation company asking for booking information such as phone numbers and names.
If handed over, the scammer can then call the diner and pose as the venue, often asking them to pay a fake deposit.
According to The Telegraph, OpenTable, a reservation website, warned: ‘If you receive a call from a restaurant asking for your credit card details, do not share it – even if you have a booking.
Those planning to dine out this weekend have been urged to be mindful of fake phone calls from the ‘restaurant’
‘Hang up and call the restaurant back directly to confirm their identity and whether or not your credit card details are needed.’
‘Quishing’
Almost £3.5million was lost to ‘quishing’ scams between April 2024 and April 2025, Action Fraud recently revealed.
The term refers to fraudulent QR codes being placed in public places, such as car parks, and online.
When scanned, the codes lead motorists, who believe they are paying for a legitimate ticket, to a bogus site that can steal both their money and personal details.
The fake QR codes have previously been spotted in Northumberland, Derby and Pembrokeshire, amongst other locations.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams previously said: ‘A car park is one of the last places where you’d expect to be caught out by online fraud.
Quishing refers to fraudulent QR codes being placed in public places, such as car parks, and online (stock)
‘Unfortunately, the increasing popularity and ease of using QR codes appears to have made drivers more vulnerable to malicious scammers. For some, this sadly means a Quick Response code could in fact be a ‘quick route’ to losing money.
‘As if this quishing scam isn’t nasty enough, it can also lead to drivers being caught out twice if they don’t realise they haven’t paid for parking and end up getting a hefty fine from the council.’
He urged drivers to completely avoid using QR codes and to instead pay by cash, card or via official apps.
Meanwhile, Claire Webb, Acting Director of Action Fraud, recently said: ‘We’re urging people to stop and check before scanning QR codes, to avoid becoming a victim of quishing.
‘Look out for QR codes that may have been tampered with in open spaces, or emails and texts that might include rogue codes.
‘If you’re in doubt, contact the organisation directly. You can follow our advice on quishing, on our website at www.actionfraud.police.uk to help protect yourself.’
Parking fine emails
Holidaymakers parking up should be aware of further scams lurking in their inboxes.
Some fraudsters send out emails pretending to be parking ticket companies charging fines.
Holidaymakers parking up should be aware of further scams lurking in their inboxes
They could even be as elaborate as including images of the car and often have malware links for payment or further details.
Sometimes, the fake fines can be sent as text messages in similar formats.
However, the British Parking Association warns, ‘Real PCNs are on physical paper and always include instructions on how to pay or appeal it.’
The organisation urges anyone caught out to contact Action Fraud.
Fake accommodation deals
Holidaymakers looking for accommodation this weekend should be mindful of fake deals online.
Luxurious rooms listed for a fraction of the expected price are often too good to be true.
It can be easy to click through links offering amazing stays and quickly pay to secure the bargain.
But the Money Saving Expert site warns, ‘Criminals can hack into legitimate accounts and post scam ads on social media, all in an attempt to steal your cash.
‘In the worst cases, you may turn up only to find the accommodation you booked isn’t available – or doesn’t exist.’
Believable websites can catch eager travellers out, but the expert urges people to be vigilant and check URLs, reviews and pay via credit or debit card which usually offers more protection.
Holidaymakers looking for accommodation this weekend should be mindful of fake deals online
Customer service scam
Those who have booked legitimate accommodation may find themselves needing to resolve an enquiry over the phone, but without the details at hand to call up.
Sometimes people might take to social media and tag the company, asking for help, but this can open up holidaygoers to risks.
A fake account, posing as the hotel or acocomdoation company, may reply offering help and eventually work their way to requesting bank details.
A spokesperson from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) told The Telegraph: ‘Scammers make fake online accounts or hack real accounts to commit a range of fraudulent activities.
‘Many social media sites have a process to verify accounts. If people are unsure or are sent links to information or to make a payment, they should visit the company’s official website and contact customer services directly.’
