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BRITISH AIRWAYS SAID SELLING AND BUYING AVIOS POINTS ‘VIA OUTSIDE SOURCES’ WAS FORBIDDEN, WITH A COUPLE CAUGHT OUT AFTER BUYING FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINED POINTS FROM A SCAMMER ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
07:45, 29 May 2025 Holidaymakers are being told to beware buying Avios points on Facebook after scams. British Airways said selling and buying Avios points ‘via outside sources’ was
forbidden, with a couple caught out after buying fraudulently obtained points from a scammer on social media. One holidaymaker believed he was buying Avios points from someone on a Facebook
group when he was planning a trip to Corfu for the end of this month, he told the Guardian newspaper this weekend. He paid £200 for 60,000 Avios points. Without the points, the flights cost
£1,300. But he was told by BA that the points had been “fraudulently obtained”, and was left with a non-refundable hotel booking and airport transfers worth £700. READ MORE FOREIGN OFFICE
ISSUES 'IMPORTANT' WARNING FOR UK TOURISTS 'WHO HAVE HEALTH CONDITION' “Both of us are self-employed so this has hit us hard, financially and emotionally,” he said. “It’s
heartbreaking to tell someone you love that the holiday you both looked forward to for months is gone.” He added: “We would have never flown business class, to be honest, without seeing
this. It was just a cool thing which we thought we could do and it would cost the same amount as a normal flight.” “Scams like this can still happen even when you think you’ve protected
yourself. I had the points in my account before paying – and I still got scammed,” he said. “If it’s happening in one Facebook group with 75,000 members, you can bet it’s happening in others
too.” BA said in a statement that the sale of the points had violated its terms and conditions as selling or buying “via outside sources” was forbidden. Article continues below Avios is the
loyalty currency of The British Airways Club and our partners. BA explains: "Collect Avios on flights, online shopping, hotel bookings and even your weekly shop. With our partners
across fashion, travel and finance, the possibilities are endless. "Once you’ve collected enough, take to the skies and spend your Avios on flights, discover incredible hotels or
experience unforgettable adventures."