AfriForum warns holidaymakers: Don’t let scams ruin your holiday

With the festive season approaching and thousands of South Africans planning their December holidays, AfriForum is warning the public to remain vigilant against holiday scams. Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated methods to convince holidaymakers to pay deposits or make full payments for accommodation and holiday packages that do not exist, or to which the so-called landlord has no legitimate access.

The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) has previously warned that holiday-related fraud is particularly prevalent before and during holiday periods. These scams include fake accommodation advertisements, cloned websites and advertisements, hijacked booking platforms and fraudsters posing as travel agents. Scammers may even use photographs, addresses and other details of genuine holiday properties to make their scams appear credible.

According to Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s Chief Spokesperson for Community Safety, this means that holidaymakers can no longer simply assume that a booking is legitimate because the property actually exists or the advertisement looks professional.

“The days when you could easily spot a scam because of poor spelling and a suspicious-looking advertisement are long gone. Criminals steal photographs of genuine holiday homes, impersonate legitimate businesses and can even hijack an existing booking account to convince consumers to make payments outside the platform. You must independently verify the property, the person letting it and the payment details before transferring any money,” says Broodryk.

There have also been cases where the same accommodation has been let to several families for the same period. In one case, at least six families reportedly arrived at a game reserve during the festive season with bookings for the same accommodation and overlapping dates. One family of 18 had reportedly already paid R24 500 for the holiday.

AfriForum also warns against scammers posing as travel agents. In one case that came to light in 2025, more than 48 families claimed to have collectively lost approximately R5 million after paying for holidays that did not materialise as promised.

“A familiar name, professional invoice, modern website or even the fact that you have previously made a successful booking with someone is not sufficient reason to transfer tens of thousands of rand without further verification. Take a few extra minutes to make sure you know exactly who you are dealing with,” Broodryk adds.

AfriForum’s tips for avoiding holiday scams:

• Independently verify the property:

Do not automatically assume that the accommodation details are genuine. Search for the address of your chosen accommodation yourself and verify that the property actually exists and is owned or managed by the person you are contacting.

• Verify the landlord or letting agent:

If the accommodation forms part of a complex, estate or resort, contact the management independently and confirm that the person or agency is authorised to let the unit.

• Conduct a reverse image search:

Photographs of a legitimate property can easily be copied and used in a fake advertisement. Conduct a reverse image search online to establish whether the photographs have been used elsewhere or duplicated.

• Avoid moving conversations off booking platforms unnecessarily:

Be cautious if someone asks you to move the conversation to WhatsApp and pay directly via EFT in exchange for a discount. Once payment is made outside the booking platform, consumers may lose the platform’s protection against scams.

• Be suspicious of unusually good deals:

A luxury holiday home advertised at a significantly lower price than similar accommodation in the same area should raise alarm bells.

• Do not give in to pressure to pay:

Statements such as “pay within the next hour”, “someone else wants to book it now” or “you will lose your booking today” are used to pressure people into paying before they have properly verified the booking.

• Verify banking details:

If the banking details change after you have already made a booking, confirm the changes by telephone using a number you have obtained independently.

• Be cautious of payment links:

A message containing your name, accommodation details and correct travel dates is not necessarily genuine. South African tour operators have already been targeted with messages containing genuine booking details.

• Read reviews critically:

Check how long a profile has existed, when reviews were posted and whether independent reviews are available on other platforms.

• Reconfirm your booking before departure:

Contact the accommodation provider a week or two before departure and confirm your name, dates, unit and payment.

• Keep all supporting evidence:

Retain advertisements, WhatsApp messages, emails, invoices, banking details and proof of payment in case a dispute or criminal investigation arises later.

• Act immediately if you suspect you have been scammed:

Contact your bank as soon as possible to establish whether the transaction can be stopped or traced and report the fraud to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

“The most important rule is simple: Verify before you pay. A few extra minutes of research could mean the difference between a well-deserved holiday and a family arriving at their destination thousands of rand out of pocket and with nowhere to stay,” Broodryk concludes.