How to avoid falling into the hands of fraudsters when booking accommodation for a holiday: simple tips

The number of cases of fraud when holidaymakers book villas or apartments is constantly growing. To protect yourself from intruders, you should be extremely careful.

The Telegraph has shared some tips. First of all, you should make sure that you are communicating with the homeowner.

How to behave:

1. The safest way to book a villa, cottage or apartment abroad is through a tour operator in conjunction with plane tickets. They are legally responsible for booking, describing and maintaining the property, and your money will be fully protected.

2. Contacting a cottage company or an online agent will provide you with more security than responding directly to a private owner's advert.

3. If you do decide to book through the website, check how long the property has been on the site: the date the advertiser/owner joined is usually automatically marked. The longer they are on the site, the more likely they are genuine. And keep in mind: if the price looks too good to be true, it probably isn't.

.4. Google the name of the property to see if there are any negative reviews. Of course, these can be fake, so be sceptical of those who post only positive ratings.

5. If you have any doubts whether the photos of the property are real, you can check them on Google Images. Google Maps will also confirm the location of the house or building, and the zoom or street view function can allow you to see if it matches the photos posted online.

6. If you are booking on your own, talk to the owners on the phone. Asking for more information is always encouraging and shows how knowledgeable and trustworthy they are. If they refuse, think about why.

7. Google the names of the owners - if there have been negative incidents, they may have already written about it.

8. Be very careful when paying with bank services or bank transfers. Sometimes it is the only way to pay if you are booking privately, but it means you have very little chance of getting your money back if it is a scam.

9. Check the terms of the deposit. The terms of payment and refund of the deposit should be clear and the amount should be proportionate - 10 per cent of the rent may be reasonable, more than 25 per cent is clearly too much. If any transfers are made during your departure, ask for proof (e.g. receipts) of the transfer.

10. Check the property thoroughly upon arrival, ideally in the presence of the owner or manager. Mark and photograph any damage that may be present.