Trading Standards - Tour Operator Scams

17th January 2026

There have been reports of companies offering tours around Scotland who have taken bookings but then fail to turn up at the agreed location, leaving visitors stranded.

One group of people booked a walking tour in Edinburgh, paying a total of almost £300. Nobody from the tour company turned up at the agreed time and the group were unable to contact them using the phone number provided.

Over £11million was lost to holiday scams in the UK last year, according to Action Fraud.

How to Avoid
Do plenty of research before booking a tour online. Before booking a tour or travel experience you have seen on social media or in an unsolicited email, contact the company via their official website or publicly listed phone number to check that it is legitimately available at the price quoted and for the required dates. Where possible, book directly with the provider or through a reputable agent.
If you are unfamiliar with a company, check that they are a member of a recognised trade association such as ABTA.

Make sure you have contact information for the company in case something goes wrong. The website should list a valid address and contact details - check that the address is listed with Companies House.

Before making any payments, check the terms and conditions of the booking and the cancellation policy.

Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails or social media adverts as they could lead to copycat websites that look similar to genuine booking websites, with similar URLs.

Where possible, pay using a credit card rather than via bank transfer - this will offer you more protection if you are a victim of fraud or if something goes wrong. Be suspicious if a provider will only give you the option to pay by cash or bank transfer.
Check independent reviews of the company on official websites rather than relying on reviews hosted on their own website.

Find out more
TSS website: www.tsscot.co.uk/holiday-scams
ABTA advice on avoiding fraud: www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/planning-and-booking-a-holiday/how-avoid-travel-related-fraud
Advice Direct Scotland: information about your consumer rights in relation to travel: consumeradvice.scot/knowledge-centre/#travel-and-transport