BRITISH holidaymakers had £6.7 million stolen by fraudsters last year through booking scams - mainly through fake airline tickets and accommodation.

Tourist victims are losing an average of £1,500 after being targeted by unsuspecting fraudsters.

Scores of Brits travelling abroad have turned up to a holiday let, villa or hotel, only to find out that their booking doesn’t exist.

In the past year alone, Villa Plus has discovered more than 100 fake holiday websites serving UK holidaymakers.

Nick Cooper, Founder & Co-Owner of Villa Plus, urged those looking to secure last minute deals to research potential destinations before they make a booking.

He said: “Holidays are supposed to be the most relaxing time of the year, but booking the wrong accommodation can quickly turn them into a nightmare.

"These figures highlight the importance of doing proper research when booking your villa or hotel, and making sure that the agent or company you are booking through is reputable.

“There are a number of precautions you can take when booking accommodation abroad; check the booking company’s credentials, look at several reviews of the property involved, check the website address is legitimate and be cautious about paying directly into an individual’s bank account”.

The latest figures released by the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau also point towards issues around booking scams.

As many as 4,700 unsuspecting holidaymakers had £6.7 million stolen by fraudsters last year – an average of £1,500 per person – with the sale of airline tickets and accommodation bookings the most common types of fraud.

The third most popular scam featured local taxis charging unsuspecting tourists more than the typical fare.

Holidaymakers are also being warned about potential problems associated with booking accommodation through online platforms that aren’t ABTA members, and don’t have staff based in resorts abroad.

Last October, Jayne Morris thought she was headed for a dream holiday in Spain with her family.

But it wasn’t until she arrived at the four-bedroom villa in Majorca that she realised she’d been the victim of a scam and had lost more than €2,500 (£2,300).

In a similar instance last September, a family were horrified when they discovered a week before a dream £3,200 holiday they had been scammed by a fake TripAdvisor website.