Don’t Let a Dream Ski Holiday Turn Into a Nightmare

This year, we thought we’d get the fraud message out earlier. Winter might be your favourite season, but scammers love it too. As skiing and snowboarding holiday bookings ramp up, so does the risk of fraud. That’s why a little due diligence can go a long way in protecting your money, your time, and your peace of mind.

Sneaky Scams That Hit Ski Trip Bookings

1. Fake ski website cons £3,000

In February, Ski Line reported a scam website called bnb-ski.com that stole £3,000; thankfully, the credit card company provided a refund under section 75. So only the bank lost out.

2. Fake chalet listings with stolen photos

Fraudsters often scrape images and descriptions from reputable chalet websites and repost them with their own contact details. They lure you in with unbelievably low prices, ask for bank transfer deposits, and vanish once the money’s transferred. Chalet operator Consensio Holidays has repeatedly warned that scammers copy their listings, including photography and copy, and even embed email addresses into the images themselves.

• In one case, Manuela Zwingmann-Wood’s group handed over £13,000 for a Val d’Isère chalet that looked genuine on a trusted platform, only to discover it was a scam.
• Another victim lost a staggering £135,000 to a fake version of a high-end chalet listing

3. Bogus package deals from social media or new websites

One skier, “Jenny”, clicked on a half-price ski deal she found via social media, promising flights, hotel, ski pass, and gear. After paying with her credit card, she never received any booking confirmation. Her refund only became possible when she discovered that the site was a sham filled with fake reviews and phoney urgency cues.

4. Equipment or instructor scams

Some travellers get scammed when renting ski gear from dubious websites, only to arrive and discover the equipment doesn’t exist, or the “instructors” they booked aren’t qualified, or simply no-shows. Ski Line book ski rental via our Partners Ski Set, don’t get scammed and enjoy buy one get one free on our ski rental deals.

How to Spot the Red Flags

Red Flag	Why It Matters
Too-good-to-be-true prices	Scammers bait with steep discounts. If it’s far below market rate, proceed cautiously.
Payment by bank transfer only	Bank transfers are nearly impossible to reverse. Credit cards offer better protection, such as chargeback or Section 75 in the UK.
Fake-looking domains or newly created sites	Scammers often create sites quickly, using strange domain names or unreliable extensions. Use tools like WHO.IS to check their age.
Copied or orphaned images	Run image searches to check where else photos appear. If they’re used under different names elsewhere, it’s a major red flag.
Fake reviews	Scammers can create glowing Trustpilot or TripAdvisor reviews. It’s best to cross-check independent sources and look for patterns.
Flight or resort bookings via email or social-only channels	If you can’t verify via official sites or phone numbers, avoid paying.
Unverifiable instructor credentials	Always use instructors endorsed by resort authorities, otherwise, you might face dangerous or fake training.

Pro Tips to Safeguard Your ski holiday in 2025/6

1. Use reputable, bonded agents

In the UK, look for ABTA or ATOL accreditation. These associations offer oversight and recourse if things go wrong. Ski Line are members of ABTA

2. Pay with credit card whenever possible

You gain powerful protection via credit card chargebacks or Section 75 refunds for purchases between £100 – £30,000.

3. Research thoroughly

Search for reviews beyond the seller’s website. Ask targeted questions to verify addresses, resort contacts, and booking procedures. Try navigating via official listing numbers or government platforms.

4. Image-check your listings

Use Google Image Reverse Search to ensure the chalet’s photos aren’t recycled and misnamed.

5. Be sceptical of urgency claims

Phrases like “act now” or “limited availability” are classic pressure tactics used by scammers.

6. Test contact info early

Try emailing or calling to confirm responsiveness before you pay.

7. Report scams immediately

In the UK, contact Action Fraud; other regions should notify relevant authorities and financial institutions promptly.

Final Thoughts

The ski slopes should be about freedom and exhilaration, not regret. Fraudsters are talented in exploiting emotions, prices, and trust to lure in unsuspecting travellers. But with careful due diligence, checking domains, confirming identities, researching offline, and using protected payments, you can carve through the snow with confidence. Stay safe, stay savvy, and enjoy the ride. Or you can do the easy way, book with Ski Line, we check and double check all our suppliers so we and our clients don’t get conned.