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Holiday makers scammed out of £2.2 million

19/05/2015

Holiday makers scammed out of £2.2 million: How to avoid becoming the next victim

After a report from City of London Police revealed that fraudsters stole an estimated £2.2 million from holiday makers in 2014


A recent article on the Goodtogo website caught our eye so we’re sharing some tips on how to avoid becoming a victim.

The most common type of crime involved fraudsters creating fake websites or posting fake adverts for villas and apartments on popular accommodation sites. Holiday makers then arrive in resort to find the apartments or villas they thought they had booked and paid for either didn’t exist or had not been booked.

The majority of victims had paid by bank transfer or cash, which means they have no way of getting their money back, but when holidays are involved it is not just the loss of money which is devastating.

Becoming a victim of holiday fraud is also emotionally devastating as a holiday can be booked well in advance and looked forward to for months; it can also be extremely stressful to you find yourself stranded abroad with nowhere to stay.

The most common types of holiday booking fraud in 2014 were:

  • Holiday Accommodation - Fraudsters are setting up fake websites, hacking into legitimate accounts and posting fake adverts on websites and social media.
  • Airline tickets - where a customer believes they are booking a flight and receives a fake ticket or pays for a ticket that never turns up.
  • Sports and religious trips - Often an attractive target due to limited availability and consequent higher prices. In 2014 the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and World Cup in Brazil were targeted with numerous people having paid for non –existent accommodation or tickets.
  • Holiday clubs - Victims were offered "free” holidays to entice them into attending a seminar where they were duped into buying a fraudulent timeshare.

 

How to avoid holiday fraud:

  • 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 or ATOL.
  • 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.

This product is provided to Travel Insured by goodtogoinsurance.com who are appointed representatives of Ancile Insurance Group Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority – no.471641 By clicking the box at the foot of this page, you will be taken to our dedicated travel insurance site provided by goodtogoinsurance.com where you will be able to get a travel insurance quotation and view full policy information. The quotation you will obtain is provided on a non advised basis which means that no advice is given or implied and you are solely responsible for deciding whether the policy is suitable for your needs. Contact us if in doubt or if you require advice.

This insurance would meet the demands and needs of someone who wishes to insure their trip away from their home for cancellation costs, medical expenses and other specific risks required for that trip according to their individual circumstances..


If you experience any problems when using the site, contact us on 0845 850 1066.

I have read and understood the above detail

click here to obtain an online quote

This product is provided to Travel Insured by Ancile Insurance Group Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority - no.471641. By clicking the box at the foot of this page, you will be taken to our dedicated travel insurance site provided by Ancile Insurance Group Ltd where you will be able to get a travel insurance quotation and view full policy information. The quotation you will obtain is provided on a non advised basis which means that no advice is given or implied and you are solely responsible for deciding whether the policy is suitable for your needs. Contact us if in doubt or if you require advice.

This insurance would meet the demands and needs of someone who wishes to insure their trip away from their home for cancellation costs, medical expenses and other specific risks required for that trip according to their individual circumstances..

If you experience any problems when using the site, contact us on 0845 850 1066.

I have read and understood the above detail.

click here to obtain an online quote

This product is provided to Travel Insured by Ace European Group Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority – no.202803. By clicking the box at the foot of this page, you will be taken to our dedicated business travel insurance site provided by Ace European Group Ltd where you will be able to get a travel insurance quotation and view full policy information. The quotation you will obtain is provided on a non advised basis which means that no advice is given or implied and you are solely responsible for deciding whether the policy is suitable for your needs. Contact us if in doubt or if you require advice.

This insurance would meet the demands and needs of a business which wishes to insure business trips away from the UK for cancellation costs, medical expenses and other specific risks required for that trip according to their individual circumstances..

If you experience any problems when using the site, contact
us on 0845 850 1066.

I have read and understood the above detail.

click here to obtain an online quote

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