Here is a summary of the UK holiday fraud report:
- In the last financial year, victims reported losing a total of £15,319,057 to holiday fraudsters.
- The top 10 hotspots for holiday fraud in the UK are London, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Thames Valley, West Yorkshire, Hampshire, Essex, Sussex, Avon and Somerset, and Kent.
- People in their 20s and 40s accounted for 44% of all reports of holiday fraud.
- The most common types of holiday fraud are clone comparison websites, airline websites, and holiday websites.
- Fraudsters often use counterfeit Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL) protect numbers on their fake webpages.
- To avoid falling victim to holiday fraud, you should:
- Do your own research and check the company's reputation before booking.
- Look for the ABTA logo on the company's website.
- Pay with a credit card, if possible.
- Secure your email.
- If you think you've been a victim of holiday fraud, contact your bank and report it to Action Fraud.
Here are some additional tips to help you avoid holiday fraud:
- Only book through reputable travel websites.
- Be wary of any deals that seem too good to be true.
- Don't pay for anything in advance, unless you're absolutely sure the company is legitimate.
- Keep copies of all your travel documents.
- If you have any doubts, contact the company directly.
Source: Action Fraud (23-05-2023)
For further information, visit https://www.caa.co.uk/
For a full list of tips to avoid becoming a victim of fraud, please visit https://www.atol.org/about-atol/how-to-check-for-protection/ or https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/planning-and-booking-a-holiday/how-avoid-travel-related-fraud.
If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040, or call Police on 101.