Fake Cancellation & Refund Scams
Bogus 'your trip is cancelled, claim a refund' messages that steal card and banking details.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
What this scam is
Fake cancellation and refund scams claim your flight, hotel or tour is cancelled and offer a refund, steering you to a fake page that harvests card and banking details or charges a 'processing fee'.
How it works
You receive a convincing cancellation notice with a refund link. The page asks for card or bank details to 'process the refund', or a fee to release it. The details are then used for fraud.
Common red flags
- Unexpected cancellation with a refund link
- Requests for full card or bank login details
- A fee required to receive a refund
- Non-official sender or domain
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Your booking [reference] is cancelled. Claim your [amount] refund within 24h: [fake link].
Payment methods used
- Card/bank details harvested
- Processing 'fees'
Who is usually targeted
- Travellers with upcoming trips
- People affected by real disruptions
What to do immediately
- Verify any cancellation directly with the provider
- Never enter bank logins to 'receive' a refund
- Contact your bank if you shared details
Evidence to preserve
- The message and link
- Booking details
- Any payment
Where to report it
- Action Fraud (UK) — UK national fraud & cybercrime reporting centre
- FTC ReportFraud (US) — US Federal Trade Commission fraud reports
- FBI IC3 (US) — US Internet Crime Complaint Center
- Scamwatch (Australia) — Australian competition & consumer reporting
- Your bank's fraud line — Use the number on the back of your card or in your banking app — never a number the caller gives you
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Frequently asked questions
How are refunds normally paid?
Genuine refunds go back to your original payment method automatically — you don't need to enter bank logins or pay a fee to receive one. Verify any cancellation through the provider's official channel.