Advantage backs police holiday fraud crackdown

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is mobilising a crackdown on holiday fraud during peaks.

A week of action by the force’s economic crime unit is running until February 5, with a warning of arrests and action.

Six victims of holiday fraud were reported in the Greater Manchester area last week, with the average loss of £650.

The GMP unit is working with City of London Police “to proactively disrupt and prosecute any offenders of holiday fraud”.

The Advantage Travel Partnership is backing the campaign.

Chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said urged consumers to read police advice and “don’t fall victim to holiday scams”.

She added on X (formerly Twitter): “Please also remember that how you book, what you book and who you book with may have varying degrees of consumer financial protection.”

GMP said: “Holiday fraud is when you have paid a travel agent or agency, or someone offering short-term lodging for rent online, and then finding out that the holiday you’ve booked doesn’t actually exist.”

Officers and staff in the unit will be helping consumers gain a better understanding of crime prevention advice in relation to fraud to help keep themselves and their money safe this year.

Detective sergeant Stacey Shannon, of GMP’s economic crime unit, said: “We have reached that time of year, with the weather being cold, that people have started to look for holidays in the summer.

“Our prevention officers, staff and volunteers are out doing everything we can to protect our community from holiday fraud, it is a devastating crime involving hundreds of pounds worth of hard-earned money that is going straight into fraudster’s pockets.

“People save up all year and look forward to holidays abroad and we want to ensure that no one is affected by this crime.”

She added: “Ensure you don’t reply to unsolicited emails, texts, social media or calls with holiday offers. Links and attachments in emails may lead to malicious websites or download viruses.

“Book a holiday directly with an airline or hotel, or through a reputable agent. Check whether they’re a member of Abta.

“If you decide to deal directly with the property owner or a letting agent, ask them questions about the booking, room, location and area and don’t book on websites that don’t have a padlock icon (https) in the address bar, and be extra cautious if you’re asked to pay using bank transfer or cash; pay by credit or with a debit card if you can, this can help the money be recovered if it is in fact a fraudulent deal.”

An Advantage Travel Partnership spokesperson said: “It’s crucial that people make sure that when booking their holiday they book it with a reputable agent and that they also ensure that their holiday is financially protected.

“People can be trusting when it comes to booking their hard-earned trip away and can come unstuck.  

“We would always advocate that people shop around for the best deal and, where possible, book a package holiday that is Atol protected, which means that they will get their money back, should anything go wrong.”