Loveholidays Scam: A County Antrim family targeted by scammers fears their experience has exposed a security loophole in loveholidays’ online booking platform. Marion Tyler accidentally called a fraudulent number, allowing scammers to access her account and steal £2,000. Despite changing login details, the family later found they could still access the account without re-authentication, raising concerns over the firm’s security measures.
How Did the Scam Happen?
Marion Tyler booked a holiday to Lanzarote via loveholidays.com.
She searched online for the company’s contact and unknowingly called a scam number.
The fraudsters, posing as loveholidays agents, gained her trust by knowing accurate holiday details.
Scammers accessed a one-time passcode link from her email, taking full control of her loveholidays booking.
They later moved the conversation to WhatsApp and tricked her into transferring £2,000, promising a discount.
When she later called the real loveholidays, she discovered that no payment had been received.
Security Loophole? Family Raises Concerns
Despite following loveholidays’ security advice, the scammers continued to make changes to her booking. Marie Tyler, Marion’s daughter-in-law, discovered that even after changing login credentials, she could still access the account from her browser cache.
“I was shocked,” she said. “The scammers must be getting in again and again because there’s no reauthentication.”
Loveholidays’ Response
The company apologized for the scam but defended its two-factor authentication (2FA) system, stating:
“We are confident that our platform is secure. The issue stemmed from the customer unknowingly giving access to the scammer.”
They have since
Transferred the booking to a new account with a different reference number.
Initiated further security measures to revoke account access if a compromise is reported.
Next Steps for the Family
Reported the fraud to Action Fraud and the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Working with their bank to recover the lost money.
Still planning to go on their Lanzarote holiday later this year.
Marion Tyler remains frustrated but maintains perspective:
“It’s a lot of money, but it’s not the worst thing that can happen in life.”
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