Last year a total of 6,640 reports of holiday fraud were made to Action Fraud with holiday makers losing a combined total of £12.3 million.
Of these, 179 cases were reported to Essex Police, with local people losing a combined total of £285,464.00 to holiday fraud, or on average £1,594.77 per person.
Recent data shows that Brits are planning on spending, on average, £2,525** each of their hard-earned cash on their next summer holiday, so the UK Civil Aviation Authority, which runs the ATOL scheme, is urging consumers to use its ‘Check an ATOL’ tool to make sure their holiday provider has an ATOL Licence.
Michael Budge, Head of ATOL at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:
“In the run up to Black Friday, we are encouraging people to research thoroughly before booking their next holiday, as there can be a risk of getting caught out by hidden costs and extras, or potentially booking with fraudulent companies.
“We urge consumers to check for ATOL protection, book by credit card where possible and take out travel insurance to offer layers of financial protection for their next package trip.”
Top tips to help prevent falling victim to holiday fraud:
Do your research: before committing and booking your dream holiday, make sure that you do a thorough online search to ensure the company is credible.
Check the web address: and don’t follow links from unsolicited messages.
Pay safely: where possible use a credit card when shopping online.
Look for the logo: make sure they’re a licensed company and check that they are properly accredited. Look for an ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence) and/or a membership of ABTA, The Association of British Travel Agents.
Stay safe online: use three random words to create a strong password for your email that’s different to all your other passwords. If a 2-step verification option is available, always set it.
Beware of suspicious messages: be cautious of unexpected emails or messages offering unrealistic holiday deals. If you receive a suspicious email, report it by forwarding it to [email protected]
Protect personal information: only fill in the mandatory details on a website when making a purchase. If possible, don’t create an account for the online store when making your payment.
Book with confidence: be sceptical of unrealistic holiday deals. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Exercise caution and research before making purchases.
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. If you live in Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.
