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Public warned about fraudulent travel websites
ABTA is reminding consumers about the risks of booking their flights and holidays on fake websites, after seeing an increase in the number of reports about such companies.
The association is particularly concerned that in the run up to the popular booking season in January, members of the public looking for a bargain may be duped by fraudsters.
The growth of holidays and flights available on the internet has provided a wealth of opportunities for the travelling public but it has also provided opportunities for fraudsters.
For the small expense of setting up a website, unscrupulous scammers are ripping off members of the public for large sums of money.
ABTA has put together a list of warning signs and says a combination of any of these may indicated a site is illegitimate.
They include prices that are considerably cheaper than competitors; low resolution or fuzzy logos for trade associations and credit card companies; bank transfer as the only payment option and constantly being fobbed off when tickets fail to materialise.
ABTA head of financial protection John de Vial, said: "Our consumer helpline has seen an increase in calls from members of the public who are either checking the validity of a suspicious website or, worse, have already paid by bank transfer and then been fobbed off when trying to get hold of their tickets.
"We want to make consumers aware of this problem and stop them from being ripped off in this way."
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Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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