Travel fraud is on the rise again, there were 5,826 cases reported in 2016, this is according to the UK’s national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre Action Fraud. However it’s also reported that there are many consumers who do not report their cases so this number could be significantly higher.
The number of reported cases is up by 20% and there are three campaign partners working together to inform and educate travelers on the dangers of travel fraud. The City of London Police, ABTA, and Get Safe Online are saying that the most common types of travel fraud are the sales of airline tickets, booking accommodation and of course timeshare sales.
The average amount each consumer has lost is roughly £1,200, equating to £7.2 million stolen by cheating liars from unsuspecting hard working holiday makers. The problem is that it is not just money these people are losing, but their precious time and the effect that it has on the mental and physical wellbeing is very detrimental. There are also a significant number of people who have come close to suffering bankruptcy and or severe health issues based on these fraudulent activities.
It is quite clear that there are patterns to the tricksters behaviours and there is always an increase in fraud reports during the summer and in December when consumers are looking for a good deal when trying to decide how to spend their hard earned cash. The despicable people will advertise accommodation offers and flights at what seem to be unbelievable deals on line and then the goods fail to materialise. This more often than not leaves people out of pocket, stuck in a foreign country with no accommodation or flights that don’t exist.
On investigation is seems that 20-39 is the most ‘at risk’ age group, with common consenus being that the ‘older’ generation are less likely to fall for an offer that seems to be too good to be true. The ‘younger’ generation are often seeking the ‘best’ but are unwilling to pay (what they consider to be) a lot of money for the privilege, which leaves them open to tricksters and ‘con-men’.
Deputy Head of Action Fraud, Steve Proffitt said: “Action Fraud has seen a consistent rise in the number of holiday fraud reports made over the past five years. We recommend that people are thorough when researching their travel arrangements and book directly with an airline or hotel, or through a reputable agent. When deciding to deal directly with a property owner or letting agent, ask them questions about the booking, room, location and area”.
“From fraudulent flights to non-existent accommodation, the impact of falling victim to holiday fraud can be far greater than the financial loss and we hope that by raising awareness, people will feel better able to protect themselves from being a victim of fraud. We urge anyone who believes they have been a victim of fraud to visit actionfraud.police.uk and report the incident.”
Pay heed and stay safe out there, the world of internet fraud is a very true and sometimes devastating reality.
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