The Association of ATOL Companies is cracking down on fraud with the launch of a new web forum.
The new forum is on the association’s website aac-uk.org/forum and will allow both agents and operators to report cloned or stolen cards which are used to purchase scheduled airline tickets.
It is hoped by encouraging speedy reporting of an illegal card it will stop its continued use by a fraudster who can often obtain instant airline tickets on the internet.
AAC legal adviser Alan Bowen said: “In the last month alone almost 10% of our members have suffered losses caused by the use of stolen, cloned or misused cards to purchase tickets.
“The advent of e-ticketing means that fraudsters can obtain a ticket at the time of purchase, often on a non-cancellable basis.
“Our members are reporting cases where customers who are refused carriage on the cancelled booking at check in, promptly go and find the nearest computer terminal to rebook using the same card through a different website obtaining a new e-ticket for immediate use.
“By the time a member discovers the secondary fraud, the passenger is long gone.”