Aito is demanding firms that sell packages illegally in the UK be prosecuted having secured the backing of the UK’s leading Trading Standards expert. The association will demand a crackdown by Trading Standards and the government supported by new legal advice from Jonathan Kirk QC, who edits a consumer law guidebook for lawyers. He has […]
Month: May 2018
Cybercrime now affecting more people than any other crime
The absurd and unrealistic forecasts seen in many Hollywood films have become reality. According to the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, organised cybercrime is now affecting more people than any other form of crime – including drugs, firearms, organised immigration crime, and money laundering. Not because it is replacing these other forms of cybercrime, but […]
Travel firm at centre of fraud probe by police
Police are investigating a Huddersfield travel agent over claims that customers have been defrauded. Customer Asif Tanvir says he lost almost £1,000 after two flights to Dubai and Pakistan were cancelled the night before he and his wife were due to fly. Mr Tanvir, who runs a takeaway business in Huddersfield, booked the flights through […]
Tourist agency boss charged with fraud
A former president of the New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network has been charged with defrauding the publicly funded agency. Tonnette Rice, aged 55, faces felony theft charges and filing false public records. She is accused of writing out agency cheques to herself to the tune of $70,000. She resigned from the position in January 2017, […]
Hajj fraud crackdown
Police and trading standards officers plan to carry out visits and spot checks on travel agents over the next few months in a new clamp-down on Hajj-related crimes, which rocketed 143% last year. Individuals planning pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia were conned out of as much as £33,000 each, according to the national fraud […]
Butlin’s warns customers of scam Facebook promotions
Butlin’s has warned the public about fake promotions on social media promising free breaks and other big prizes. The UK operator has issued a statement on its Facebook page saying: “We have been made aware of unofficial Facebook pages being set up using the Butlin’s name and logo. “These pages are offering competition prizes and […]
Hajj travel-related fraud up 143% in 2017
A 143% increase in Hajj travel-related fraud was reported to police in 2017 on the previous year’s figures. Hotspots for recorded offending were London, the West Midlands and Manchester, with a total of 17 reported incidents, according to Action Fraud, the police national fraud reporting centre. Reports show that victims can lose anything from £1,000 […]
Man ordered to repay half a million for hotel fraud
A former carpet fitter has been orderd to repay more than half a million pounds to those who invested in his failed venture to develop hotel sites in Crete. Ralph Christie, aged 56 from West Yorkshire, was found guilty on five charges of fraud in 2015 and sentenced to seven years in jail. At the […]