We reside in a time of convenience for consumers. This means that more and more people are using the internet and websites to book their hard earned and often eagerly anticipated holidays.
There is a very real threat in the cyber world of fraudulent holiday sites and there has been an aggressive rise in travel fraud. The problem is that it is difficult to spot, the fake websites are so sophisticated and professional, no normal potential holiday maker would be able to spot them as fakes. One of the most unpleasant scams is website cloning. As the title suggests the website will appear to be exactly the same as an authentic one, the promises and prices will be fantastic and unbelievable, more often than not because it is a lie. They will take your money and you will end up a victim of fraud.
When you are looking to book your holiday on line you need to be aware that this type scamming is rife on the internet and that warning is also given by the ABTA (The Association of British Travel Agents) and the Travel and Tour Operator Association (TOTOA).
It is reported that travel fraud is costing consumers £11.5 million per year and this is rising by 425%, this data is reportedly from the City of London Police who are carrying out inquiries into a number of complaints regarding fraudulent holiday sites.
This holiday scamming is also widespread in timeshare and the products the industry sells, for example ‘points or ‘credits’. It becomes apparent that companies are selling these products and the companies don’t exist, never mind the product that you have paid your hard-earned money for. As always there are some good clubs with exceptional offers and services, but then others, as mentioned above that you must be aware of.
If you inadvertently book a fake holiday it can be very difficult to try and get your money back or any form of compensation. You may even struggle to find someone to help you take on the fraudsters.
The timeshare industry is trying to put a stop to the fraudulent activity however it seems that they may have created a monster, a quagmire of competing enterprises and some who are simply not as honest as others. Unscrupulous swindlers who are only after one thing and that’s your money. They don’t want to deliver you a service or on the promises they have made, they want your cash and then will cut and run!
One way to protect your self as a consumer is to make sure that you pay with a credit card, whether you are buying a holiday or if you chose to buy into timeshare, always use your credit card. If there are then issues with your purchase or you have been mis-sold some products, you have a path of recourse. It is called joint and several liabilities or in the case of ABTA, warranty.
We at the TCA warn consumers to make sure you don’t spend your money until you know exactly who you are giving it to!
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk