Summer scams you should avoid

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By Mark Mitchell
Know Your Money Editor

Mobile phone charges

Mobile phone charges have been in the news recently and perhaps understandably so, as England supporters travelling to South Africa were warned of the potential to rack up giant bills while overseas.

The campaign group Consumer Focus recently revealed that, due to South Africa being outside the European Union (EU), there is no cap in place to restrict the cost of making a call or sending a text.

It found the cost of calls, texts and downloading on a match day for fans at the tournament could add up to more than £100.

Relatively simple activities that may well be taken for granted when in the UK could end up costing users far more than the £55 to £85 value of a match day ticket.

However, it's not just football supporters that are at risk and anyone who is travelling outside the EU this summer need to be aware of charges.

Money-savvy consumers could be wise to check their roaming rates before they set off and ask their service provider if it has any add-ons or bundles which will help to lower the cost of phone usage overseas.

It may also be worth remembering that calls received will also be subject to charges as well as those made, so a long conversation with someone back home could hit you in the wallet.

Fake festival tickets

With a whole host of music festivals taking place this summer a potentially huge number of people could be on the lookout for tickets.

However, some websites are taking advantage of the demand by selling fake tickets to unwitting music lovers.

Last year alone more than 5,000 people were scammed when trying to purchase tickets for some of the UK's most popular events.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has launched the Just Tick It campaign to highlight the potential risk to finances that unscrupulous dealers pose.

Perhaps the best advice for people looking to get tickets from a website they have not previously used is to look around online and read reviews to discover other people's experiences with them.

Avoid World Cup woe

Supporters heading to South Africa to catch this summer's World Cup, kicking off on Friday June 11th, might be full of hope that their nation will return with the trophy.

However, some fans may unknowingly be taking their chances on whether the tickets they buy are genuine.

OFT has issued a warning to the estimated 25,000 English football supporters heading to the tournament to ensure their tickets are bought from a reputable website.

As always, scammers are also known to operate by email and fans may be wise to be very cautious about paying out money to secure tickets, which could be non-existent.

Get a better deal on your foreign currency

As the article Get value for foreign currency this summer has already touched on, travellers could be wise to exchange their holiday money before arriving at the airport.

A much higher rate of commission could see people throwing potential spending money away before they get to the departure lounge.

Shopping around for the best deal is an option that could benefit finances and leave you with more left to spend on yourself.

Keep down the cost of days out

Long summer days out can prove to be expensive business, not least in terms of ensuring the whole family is fed.

It could be wise to plan ahead to avoid splashing out at higher-priced locations like service stations while out and about.

Consumers could instead create a packed lunch for the lowest achievable price by using comparison site mysupermarket.com when shopping.

Another option that could be worth considering for those who would prefer to eat out could be to take a look at current special offers and pick up a discount at a range of restaurants.

The same applies for trips as a range of special deals are available for theme parks and other great days out.

Avoid luggage charges

A number of cheap flight deals are available with low-budget airlines and those looking to make the most of their money may wish to snap them up this summer.

But travellers may be wise to make themselves aware of their luggage limits as the savings made could soon be lost once they reach the airport.

Going over a luggage allowance can prove an expensive extra cost and airlines are seemingly becoming far stricter about imposing fines if luggage is overweight.

It could be worth weighing luggage in advance to ensure money is not being paid out unnecessarily.

Important Notice
This guide is intended for general information only and is not intended as, and does not constitute, any form of advice, recommendation or endorsement by us of any particular product(s) or services and you should rely on your own further research and professional advice in relation to your specific requirements and circumstances before purchasing any products or services. Use of this guide is subject to the Terms of Use of the KnowYourMoney site.