- Experts analyzed the risky URLs related to several popular holiday destinations
- Benidorm is associated with the most unreliable links, followed by Berlin and Ibiza
With June just around the corner, many Britons will be excitedly making plans for their summer holidays.
But new research could put you off a trip to Benidorm.
McAfee experts have revealed the 10 holiday destinations most commonly used by cybercriminals to lure unsuspecting British holidaymakers.
With the largest number of websites and advertisements offering fake deals, Benidorm tops the list, followed by Berlin and Ibiza.
‘If a deal sounds too good to be true, it’s best not to click; instead, go straight to the source and book with reputable companies,” advises Vonny Gamot, head of EMEA at McAfee.
McAfee experts have revealed the 10 holiday destinations most commonly used by cybercriminals to lure unsuspecting British holidaymakers
With June just around the corner, many Brits will be excitedly making plans for their summer holidays. But new research could put you off a trip to Benidorm
In the study, McAfee analyzed the risky URLs associated with a range of popular holiday destinations.
This included malware threats, phishing or scam content.
Their analysis showed that Benidorm is scammers’ favorite consumer lure, taking over the top spot from Bangkok, which took first place last year.
This is followed by Berlin, Ibiza, Valletta and Albufeira.
Meanwhile, Brits planning trips to Bangkok, the Maldives, Dubai, New York and Dublin should also be wary.
“Staying alert and taking early and proactive steps to manage your security, privacy and online identity is extremely important as we head into the peak summer holiday season,” Ms Gamot said.
“Additionally, with the use of AI, scams are becoming even more sophisticated, making it more difficult for consumers to determine what is real and what is not online.”
Traditionally, misspelled words and poor grammar have been the hallmarks of a scam.
Now Ms Gamot says the main thing to watch out for is the pressure to act quickly.
Their analysis showed that Benidorm is scammers’ favorite consumer lure, taking over the top spot from Bangkok, which took first place last year. This is followed by Berlin (photo), Ibiza, Valletta and Albufeira
‘Is this your last chance to buy tickets? Is there a ‘big deal’ for just one day?’ she asked.
“Cybercriminals use this tactic to get you if you let your guard down.”
Based on the findings, the researchers are calling on holidaymakers to be vigilant, especially if they book a trip to one of the most ‘dangerous’ destinations.
Ms Gamot added: ‘Pay close attention to any tempting holiday offers online, especially for Benidorm, Berlin and Ibiza, as these are top destinations used by cyber criminals to trick you into divulging personal information or clicking on malware-infected links .’