As the holiday season draws to a close, the leaves start to fall and children return to school it is the perfect time to reflect on some of the problems we have advised on during the summer.

One of those relates to holidays that have gone wrong.  Sadly, it can happen; here we try to help you avoid the pitfalls when booking your next getaway.

There is no doubt there has been a significant rise in holidays where the accommodation is booked directly, frequently using an online platforms such as Booking.com and AirBNB, (other platforms are available).

Fake Holiday Listings: What Are Your Rights and What Should You Do Next?

Booking a holiday should be simple. You find a beautiful property, choose your dates, pay your deposit and start imagining the break you’ve been looking forward to. But what happens when you discover the listing, all those fabulous photographs are fake.  The fraudster (because that’s what they are) have listed a property they don’t own and have taken your money.

For Holidaymakers 

If this has happened to you the law is on your side. A fake listing is a form of misrepresentation and, fraud and the following applies:

• The Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2025 make it clear that you’re entitled to a refund when a service is misrepresented or never provided.
• If you paid by credit card, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act may also give you protection, allowing you to claim your money back directly from your card provider. Even debit card payments can sometimes be recovered through your bank’s chargeback scheme, especially if you act quickly.
• If the booking was made through a recognised platform, you may have additional protection. These platforms have fraud teams who can investigate, remove the listing and refund you.

A word of warning – never allow yourself to make a payment outside of a platform for example by bank transfer or PayPal Friends & Family — the options to recover the money may be more limited.

For Property Owners

Property owners face a different problem having discovered their home has been copied, their photos stolen and their description lifted word for word to create a fake listing elsewhere, all of which is unlawful.  Your photos and written descriptions are yours, as is the property.  Once you are aware, time is of the essence, to make sure the platform is notified immediately.  Most booking sites with have an option to do this.  The onus is on you as the owner to prove the listing is not genuine so any information you have will help speed up the process. Once notified, the platform have a responsibility to act, and most will remove fraudulent listings quickly once they receive proof of ownership.

If the platform is slow to respond, you can escalate by sending a formal takedown notice to their legal team, explaining that your copyright has been infringed and your property misrepresented. In the UK, reporting the scam to Report Fraud which also creates an official record and may help prevent future incidents.

For holidaymakers and property owners alike, the emotional impact can be significant. A fake holiday listing doesn’t just cost money — it disrupts plans, damages trust and creates uncertainty. For further advice and information see the guidance here from Report Fraud Holiday fraud – Report Fraud and of course call us to discuss any problems you may have with this.

Talking, and truly listening is a skill. At Law Express, we believe nothing replaces speaking to a real person who understands what you’re going through. That’s why every one of our advisors is trained to listen carefully, speak clearly, and provide genuine human support – something no AI function or chatbot can ever replicate.

Call us – a real person will answer, and we will be here to help.