Suffolk locals warned to be on the lookout for holiday scams
It's as new research shows nearly 6 in 10 of us don't know how to check if a tour operator or booking is real
With lots of us looking to jet off abroad and escape the cold, there's concern people in Suffolk could be falling victim to holiday scams.
It's as new research from building society Nationwide shows nearly 6 in 10 of us don't know how to check if a tour operator or booking is real.
Paul Hardwick's director of retail for Ipswich-based Fred Olsen Travel.
He says there's an easy way to check your trip is safe: "Make sure the operator you're booking with has an ATOL licence.
"That would mean, if the company no longer existed, or if any element of the holiday went wrong, you'd get the option to get a full refund on the holiday...
"Every operator has to advertise their ATOL number, so to double check, you can go to the ATOL website, type in the company's name and it'll give you the name, address, all of the important details, before you go ahead and spend your money."
Paul says January is a prime-time for scammers to work: "We've seen a big increase in bookings in January, we had a record week last week, and a record day last Wednesday.
"January is always what we class as the 'peak period' for holiday bookings, with people wanting to book getaways."