Fraud warning for holidaymakers

Fraudsters stole around £2.2 million from unsuspecting travellers last year, according to a new report.

The report, by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau section of the City of London Police, found the average loss to fraud victims was £889, but in one single case a member of the public lost £62,000 in a timeshare scam.

Over 150 victims of holiday fraud said the crime was so severe they had had to receive medical treatment.

The majority of those who had been conned paid by unprotected means, such as bank transfer or cash, with no way of getting their money back.

Only a small proportion paid by credit or debit card, where some form of redress is available.

The report said the most common scams involved fraudsters hacking into the accounts of owners on well-known accommodation sites.

In other cases, fraudsters spoofed accommodation websites with convincing bogus imitations, leaving holidaymakers with non-existent bookings.

The 2014 report revealed that during a 12-month period, 1,569 cases of holiday booking fraud were reported to the force’s Action Fraud.

The most common types relate to holiday accommodation, airline tickets (particular to West Africa), sports and religious groups and holiday clubs or timeshares.

As a result of the findings, ABTA, The City of London Police and Get Safe Online have joined forces to issue a warning to the general public and have published the following advice:

* Stay safe online – Check the web address is legitimate and has not been altered by slight changes to a domain name – such as going from .co.uk to .org

* Do your research – Don’t just rely on one review – do a thorough online search to check the company’s credentials. If a company is defrauding people there is a good chance that consumers will post details of their experiences, and warnings about the company.

* Look for the logo – Check whether the company is a member of a recognised trade body such as ABTA. You can verify membership of ABTA online, at www.abta.com.

* Pay safe – Never pay directly into an owner’s bank account. Paying by direct bank transfer is like paying by cash – the money cannot be traced and is not refundable. Where possible, pay by credit card, (or a debit card that offers protection).

* Check paperwork – You should study receipts, invoices and terms and conditions, and be very wary of any companies that don’t provide any at all.

* Use your instincts – If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

* Report it – victims should contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via www.actionfraud.police.uk.

ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said: "Holiday fraud is a particularly distressing form of fraud as the loss to the victim is not just financial but it can also have a high emotional impact.

"Many victims are unable to get away on a long awaited holiday or visit to loved ones and the financial loss is accompanied by a personal loss."

Detective chief superintendent Dave Clark, the City of London Police Head of the Economic Crime, said: "The internet has revolutionised the way we look for and book our holidays.

"The unfortunate reality is that it is also being exploited by fraudsters who use online offers of accommodation and flights that do not exist or promising bookings that are never made to rip off unsuspecting holidaymakers.

"The nature and scale of holiday fraud means police action alone can only be part of the solution to this problem. Online shoppers must be vigilant and conduct all the necessary checks before booking a break to ensure the conmen are kept at bay.

"I would also urge anyone who has fallen victim to a holiday fraud to contact Action Fraud. Doing this will help the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau to identify and target those most responsible for this harmful and upsetting crime."