Grandma scammed while booking Lincolnshire holiday on Facebook

Tracy Canham, a 60-year-old grandmother from Coalville, Leicestershire, was scammed out of £565 while attempting to book a family holiday in Lincolnshire through a Facebook profile. She believed she was securing a lodge at Tattershall Lakes Country Park for her two granddaughters, marking her first holiday after recovering from a serious illness. The profile appeared authentic, and after several exchanges, she was convinced to make the payment. Upon realizing the profile was fake, Ms. Canham expressed her anger, particularly because she had already informed her excited grandchildren about the trip. The emotional impact of the scam was significant, as it not only involved financial loss but also dashed the hopes of a family getaway. In response to the incident, she reported the scam to her bank, which ultimately provided her with a refund. This case highlights the risks associated with booking holidays through social media platforms, where fraudulent activities can easily occur. Claire Webb, director of Action Fraud, advised consumers to use only official or reputable holiday booking websites to avoid falling victim to scams. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, stated that they are actively working to combat fraudulent activities on their platforms and collaborate with law enforcement to address such issues.