More than £12 million lost to holiday fraud last year
Ilaria Grasso MacolaAction Fraud has revealed the stark cost of crime to holidaymakers and the travel trade after investigating more than 6,500 cases of fraud last year, costing consumers and the industry tens of millions of pounds.
Some 6,640 reports of fraud were made to Action Fraud in 2023, costing victims a combined £12.3 million at an average cost of £1,851pp.
New data from the fraud and cyber crime reporting service revealed the summer months were the worst for new cases, with 804 reports made in July and 781 in August.
“We want to avoid people losing their hard-earned money and help raise awareness of the signs of holiday fraud,” said Action Fraud head Pauline Smith. “Remember – stay alert online and be wise to fraudsters.”
Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer has thrown the association’s weight behind a new Action Fraud awareness campaign, urging consumers to book their holidays with Abta members.
He warned agents and travel suppliers: “Fraudsters are using increasingly sophisticated methods to target consumers, with a particular focus on destinations and times of year when demand is high and availability limited, as they know people will be looking for good deals."
Tanzer added that one of the simplest ways consumers could protect themselves, and for agents to protect their clients, was to look out for Abta membership.
“Victims will often only find out they have been defrauded just before they are due to travel, or even in resort, when it can be very difficult to find a legitimate replacement leading to yet more cost and potential disappointment.”
Checking packages are financially protected by the Atol scheme, paying by credit card and taking out travel insurance feature among other tips given by authorities.
“Our research shows almost three in five of us are planning to go overseas this summer and expect to spend thousands of pounds on these trips,” said UK Civil Aviation Authority head of consumers and enforcement Anna Bowles, who is also in charge of the Atol scheme.
“Before booking your trip abroad make sure you are doing everything you can to thwart fraudsters.”
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