Before rushing to pack your suitcase, remember that criminals often set up fake websites offering cheaper than average travel deals. Bookings may be fake or not even exist.

Be sure to do plenty of research into who you’re buying from to ensure they haven’t been flagged by others as suspicious. If a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is!

If you think you’ve fallen for a holiday scam, contact your bank immediately and report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via www.actionfraud.police.uk.

If you’re jetting off on your summer holiday, be aware that fraudsters are running scams related to meet and greet car parking at airports, including additional charges on collection, damage to vehicles and significant additional mileage. If you are planning on leaving your car when you fly, we recommend using a car park that has been approved by Park Mark, to make sure you don’t have an unwelcome surprise when you collect your vehicle. If you have had an issue with airport parking call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.

Scammers are great at pretending to be from a trusted company and contact their victims hoping to trick them into handing over their personal or financial information. Just because someone knows your basic details doesn’t mean they’re genuine.

If you receive an unexpected request for money or information, it might be a scam. Never give anyone remote access to your computer following a cold call or unsolicited message. If something seems suspicious, such as requests for money or information, contact the organisation directly to check.

Did you know that if you receive a suspicious text message you can report it by forwarding the message to SMS number 7726, which spells out SPAM on a phone keypad? Phone numbers operating scam calls can be reported by texting ‘CALL’ to 7726 and following the prompts. Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via www.actionfraud.police.uk.

Remember, not everything you see advertised on an online platform is sold by that platform. If the actual supplier is not based in the UK, you may face heightened risks. Think before you buy and take a moment to check if the seller is legit. Compare the product’s price with other sellers. If it’s a fraction of the cost, it’s likely to be counterfeit. You can also search ‘product recalls’ on the UK Government website to see if any problems or safety issues have been identified with a potential purchase. If you think you’ve bought an unsafe product report it to Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133.

Are you thinking about getting some work done to your home or your garden? Make sure you get a written contract before any work starts to help protect yourself against any potential problems. Be wary of traders who won’t put anything in writing as this is often a sign they could be dishonest.

Remember to include the following details in a written contract:

• Start and finish dates
• An agreed price
• Any tidying up that will be required
• Materials that are included
• Equipment that is included
• Details of subcontractors if they will be required
• Any payments you need to make

If you need help writing a contract you can download a free template from Citizens Advice.

The Food Standards Agency is warning people not to consume a protein powder product which has been found to contain extremely high levels of caffeine that could be fatal. Home Bargains has recalled 1.5 kg bags of Sci-Mx Nutrition Ultra Muscle Strawberry Flavour, with a best before date of March 2025 (Batch Codes: W110429, W110430, W110431).

If you have bought this product from one of the affected batches DO NOT consume it. Email Sci-Mx Nutrition’s consumer careline at customerservices@sci-mx.co.uk to obtain a full refund.