My easy mistake on a girls holiday cost me £10,000, many people do the same
The holidays are the perfect time to let loose and relax, but that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down.
A woman told how a simple mistake cost her more than £10,000 abroad.
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In her viral videoTikTok user Lydia Jasmine (@lydiajasmine__) told how her bank account was plundered without her knowledge.
The young woman explained that she was on holiday in Zante, on the Greek island of Zakynthos, when the crime took place.
Lydia and her friend had booked a boat trip with drinks for the second day of their visit.
The girls decided to each take a small bag with them, in which they only took the bare necessities for that day.
For Lydia this meant her phone, ID, bank card and “a few euros”.
She remembers always carrying her bag with her and only taking it with her when she went swimming in the ocean.
Lydia explained that her friend stayed on board and looked after their things.
However, when she got out of the water, she noticed that her phone was no longer in her bag.
Although the boat crew assured her that they would search everyone once they disembarked, she could not find her phone.
“My biggest mistake that vacation was putting my driver’s license in the back of my phone,” she told her followers.
Lydia explained that this was not because of the hassle of applying for a replacement, but as a safety measure.
She explained that her phone’s access code was her date of birth, which was of course on her driver’s license.
With this information, the thief was not only able to unlock her phone, but also use her online banking.
Lydia remembers how she ‘kept checking the bill frantically’ and even blocked all her cards.
However, when she returned home from her trip, she found that a bank transfer from her account had been authorized.
Safety Tips for the Holidays
The Association of British Travel Agents have shared their top tips for safety and security abroad.
- Don’t keep your passport, wallet, and other valuables in your back pocket.
- In areas with many holidaymakers, pay extra attention to the surroundings, such as sights and public transport.
- If there is a safe in your room, you can store your money, credit cards and other valuables there.
- Unless you are required to carry your passport, it is best to leave it at your hotel.
- Make sure that any taxi you use is properly licensed. Never accept a ride from an unlicensed taxi or a stranger.
- Be wary of unsolicited offers of help from friendly locals. Often they are sincere, but sometimes they are not.
- If possible, never walk home alone.
- If you are the victim of a crime, report it immediately to the local police.
- In the event of a safety incident, follow the advice and instructions of staff or local authorities.
- If you become involved in a security incident and are unsure what action to take, follow the instructions for ‘Run, hide, tell’.
“A single bank transfer of £12,242 was made to someone called Jessica,” she said.
Lydia then launched a police investigation and was even able to provide authorities with the thief’s location using the Find My iPhone feature.
She said the situation was eventually resolved, but warned others not to make the same mistake.
TikTok users shared their thoughts on the incident in the comments.
“Wow, what a costly mistake,” wrote one viewer.
“The moral of the story is don’t create passwords with your date of birth,” said another.
“I don’t even want to be dramatic, this would mean the death of me,” said a third person.
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