Martin Lewis' MSE warns Ryanair, Easyjet, British Airways, Emirates passengers 'you're a target'

Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert has warned over five holiday booking scams to watch out for as £12 million a year is lost to travel fraud. The BBC Sounds podcast host and ITV star's team have published a handy guide for Brits flying abroad.

Figures from the national fraud reporting centre Action Fraud show that over £12 million was lost to holiday booking scams last year, with July and August seeing the most scams reported. MSE has warned against discounted flight tickets for sale on social media.

"Book directly with the airline instead," it warned. Other popular scams are fake accommodation deals – with MSE warning its loyal subscriber base and swathes of readers up and down the country: "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

READ MORE Foreign Office 'alters' Spain, Turkey, Greece travel advice amid 'red alert'

To protect yourself, pay on plastic because you're better protected, and check for feedback and scrutinise the company's contact details. Clone holiday booking websites are another common trend – with MSE warning: "Don't click links in emails and texts."

To protect yourself, check the website address. Don't click links in emails or texts, either, MSE said, and watch out for bogus cancellation refunds too. "Guard your personal details," MSE said, and watch out for fake customer service accounts on social media. C

Fraudulent emails that look like they're from the travel company are becoming increasingly common, too, and so are spoofed calls from 'refund agents'. Don't let yourself be rushed or pressured, MSE urged, and "make sure you're dealing with the real firm before sharing ANY info."

In a fifth and final warning, it added: "Sham giveaways – beware social media posts and any unsolicited contact." It added: "The exact form of this type of scam can vary a lot, as scammers will tailor their messaging around specific brands, holidays or events – for example, British Airways, EasyJet, Emirates and Ryanair have all been targets."