Scammers target hotel bookings on Isle of Barra
Hotel guests visiting Barra have been sent scam emails asking for bank details
- Published
Police Scotland has urged accommodation providers and guests to be vigilant following reports of scam emails targeting hotel bookings on Barra in the Western Isles.
Officers said a hotel on the island had reported that a number of guests with upcoming reservations had received fraudulent emails requesting bank details to "confirm" their booking.
The emails were sent from an address that is not connected to the hotel.
Police said their inquiries into the incident were ongoing.
There were 522 fraud offences in the Highlands and Islands between April 2024 and end of March this year, according to police figures.
The number was slightly down on the 531 the previous year.
In a report to Highland Council, Det Ch Insp Craig Still said: "Challenges remain with investigating this type of crime, as most perpetrators reside either elsewhere in the UK or abroad.
"We continue to be proactive around online safety and ensure that all victims of online fraud are provided with advice on how to keep themselves safe."