Over £7 million was stolen from holiday makers by fraudsters last year, according to a new report.
The travel association ABTA has revealed that over 5000 holidaymakers were victims of booking fraud in 2018 and that on average, victims had lost an average of £1380 each equating to a total loss of £7m.
Victims had incurred the losses after purchasing bogus organised tours, accommodation or airline tickets. ABTA have revealed that fraudsters were using ‘increasingly sophisticated methods’ to target people who were searching for great holiday deals. There are increasing numbers of fake websites that are posing as villa rental or flight booking websites. This is why it is vital to always use an ABTA & ATOL protected company such as Not Just Travel.
More than half of the victims of travel scams told Action Fraud that the experience had affected their mental health or financial well-being. Pauline Smith, head of Action Fraud commented:
"The startling emotional impact of falling victim to holiday fraud is highlighted in the latest figures, as 575 people reported that the harm to them was so severe, they had to receive medical treatment or were at risk of bankruptcy."
In order to avoid being conned, let your personal travel expert take the stress out of booking your holiday as we will be with you every step of the way. ABTA have advised holidaymakers ensure they undertake their research and check the credentials of the holiday company (along with any corresponding reviews) but we will do all of that for you and we only use suppliers that are fully protected.
Mark Tanzer, chief executive of ABTA said: “ABTA sees at first-hand the damage caused by travel fraudsters after customers find out their much-anticipated holiday or trip to visit family and friends does not actually exist.
“The cost to victims is not just financial; this crime causes very real emotional distress. Fraudsters are using increasingly sophisticated methods to target destinations and times of year when demand is high and availability limited, as they know people will be looking for good deals."
Get in touch with your local travel expert today and book your next holiday with a reputable and established travel company. we identify exactly what you want from your trip, what your budget is.
When you book your holiday with us, you’ll have peace of mind that your holiday is 100% protected by Not Just Travel, with a friendly face there to help you every step of the way.
