Warning! That holiday you booked online may not exist
FAMILIES are being conned out of more than £2million a year by fraudsters selling bogus holidays online.
Police and the travel industry are warning tourists not to be taken in by false adverts for cheap villas or caravan breaks on websites such as Gumtree.
They added that the true cost of holiday-related fraud is likely to be much higher – as consumers often have little knowledge of the system for pursuing conmen so fail to report the crime.
A review by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau – an arm of the City of London Police – found that holiday-related crime cost travellers at least £2.2million in 2014.
The average loss was £889, while one individual had been conned out of £62,000 in a timeshare scam.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Clark, head of 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 promise bookings that are never made to rip off unsuspecting holidaymakers.’
Disappointed travellers found Mediterranean villas or apartments they thought they had paid for did not exist. UK caravan stays were also targeted, with fake promotions for accommodation posted on Facebook, as well as advertising websites Craigslist and Gumtree. And losses are not just financial, with a third of victims saying the fraud had a substantial impact on their health. Some 167 victims said they needed medical treatment.
The police also found spikes in reported fraud during the summer months and December – painting a picture of dismayed holidaymakers and relatives having their Christmas visit to family ruined.
Mark Tanzer, of travel industry body ABTA, said: ‘Holiday fraud is particularly distressing as the loss to the victim can have a high emotional impact. Many victims are unable to get away on a longawaited break or visit loved ones and the financial loss is accompanied by personal loss.’
Last August, several families arrived at static caravan parks in Perranporth, Cornwall, and Exmouth, Devon, to find they had been scammed after booking holi- days through a Facebook posting. In the same month, a bride-to-be discovered she had paid £1,700 to a conman to hire an apartment in Newquay for her hen weekend.
Fraudsters often set up fake websites, mirroring those that provide genuine holidays. In other cases, criminals offer bogus airline tickets or fake packages linked to sporting events such as the World Cup.
Some victims are offered ‘free’ holidays to entice them to a seminar where they are duped into buying a fraudulent timeshare. The majority of victims pay by bank transfer or cash with no means of getting their money back.
Mr Clark added: ‘The nature of holiday fraud means police action can only be part of the solution. Online shoppers must be vigilant and conduct all necessary checks before booking a break to ensure the conmen are kept at bay.’
Tony Neate, from web security advisers Get Safe Online, said a holiday is one of the most expensive things people will buy. He added: ‘Do as much research as you can to check the provider is safe. It is often much easier to find proof a company is legitimate than evidence they are fraudulent.’