Asad Malik used fake reviews and stole pictures of secure car parking to trick customers. The boss of an airport parking firm has been jailed for more than a year after it was discovered he used false reviews and photos to dupe customers into booking with him. Asad Malik, 38, of Crawley, was found guilty […]
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Agent created fake refunds to book herself a luxury holiday
Holly Cull worked for Thomas Cook in Worthing and stole thousands of pounds. The 30-year-old had racked up huge debt problems when she was living in Lewes. Cull created false customer refunds, then paid for a £3,000 holiday. Hove Crown Court was told she had only paid £100 towards her luxury trip. Judge David Rennie […]
Pilgrims urged to use licensed travel agents
The Civil Aviation Authority is urging British Muslims to use licensed travel agents to book pilgrimages to Hajj following a rise in the sale of illegal or fake packages. It is urging the 25,000-plus British Muslims who will make the Hajj pilgrimage in August to research their trips and use ‘trustworthy and reputable’ companies with […]
Sharp rise in fraud attacks
There was a 19% rise in fraud attacks on land travel and accommodation last year, says a new report. The Fraud Attack Index 2019, by fraud prevention experts Forter, says moves by hoteliers and transport companies to improve the customer experience are making it easier for fraudsters. “As hotels, car rentals and train services aim […]
Hotel fraudster to pay back just £1,000
A fraudster who cheated a succession of employers, including three Midlands hotels, out of more than £14,000 will have to pay back just £1,000. James Leete, 28, was jailed for 21 months last November after he admitted eight offences of fraud and theft involving thousands of pounds. On Friday, a proceeds of crime hearing at […]
Bogus holiday sickness claims fall
The number of British holidaymakers pursuing fake illness claims against overseas hotels has fallen following a string of convictions for fraud. Ministry of Justice figures suggest there was a 19 per cent reduction in the number of personal injury claims – including ones for holiday illnesses – being brought before civil courts last year. It […]
Police seize £600,000 worth of cocaine from travel agent
A travel agent has been jailed for eight years after using his agency as a “drugs operation base”. Neil Wheatley, 46, of Tuscan Drive, Lordswood, was a director at First & Business Class Travel in Rochester, Kent. He also hid cash and drugs inside the airbag compartment of his car, before his arrest in December […]
Rita Hunter won’t have to pay back a single penny
Rita Hunter says she doesn’t know what she spent it on and has now been declared bankrupt. A crooked travel agent who pocketed more than £200,000 from clients won’t have to pay any of it back. Rita Hunter sold dream holidays including flights and accommodation to unsuspecting victims via her travel company. But instead of […]
Finance boss disqualified after £700,000 scam
The finance boss of failed operator Diamond Shortbreaks has been disqualified for 11 years after misappropriating £700,000 of company funds on failed foreign exchange trades. The penalty was revealed by the government’s Insolvency Service. Jamie Tann worked as financial director for the coach holidays and rail breaks specialist, which failed two years ago. It was […]
Holidaymakers fall victim to new fraud tactics
Abta and Action Fraud, the national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre, are warning consumers about a new flight ticket scam. The reporting centre said it has received 110 reports about the fresh fraud tactics, with total losses of £98,043. It said crooks are attempting to entice victims who are looking for cheap flights abroad, […]
Travel scams ‘likely to increase’ around Brexit date
Prevention of Fraud in Travel (PROFiT) is warning more travel scams are likely around the time the UK is set to leave the European Union next month and is urging people to report any suspicious activity. PROFiT said: “Organised crime will always exploit confusion and uncertainty. Regardless of outcome the Brexit situation is currently uncertain […]
Fake claims in Spain
Holiday sickness fraud is the subject of a criminal investigation in Mallorca, Madrid-based lawyer Marie Rogers explains. Local police in Mallorca opened a criminal investigation code-named Operation Hook in late 2017. It targeted the activity of a British national resident in Spain, Laura Cameron, and what is believed to be a family business of approaching […]
Madrid lawyer hails fake claims fight
A Spanish lawyer representing hotels on the receiving end of multiple sickness claims by UK holidaymakers has hailed the campaign to cut bogus claims but says hoteliers in Spain remain wary. Marie Rogers of Madrid-based law firm Rogers & Co said: “There has been a significant reduction in claims compared with this time last year. […]
Travel firms urge Facebook to tackle fake pages
Travel companies are calling on Facebook to remove fake pages after their brands were used to dupe customers in bogus promotions. Butlin’s, Thomas Cook and Carnival Cruise Line are among brands whose identities have recently been hijacked by fraudsters to obtain consumers’ personal details in fake promotions, according to Hoax-Slayer, a website that highlights internet […]
Travel brands hijacked to dupe customers
A business travel agency facing questions about allegations of fraud by customers left out of pocket has collapsed. Leading travel brands such as Qantas, Thomas Cook, Butlin’s and Carnival Cruise Line are the latest names being used to dupe consumers with fake Facebook promotions. According to Hoax-Slayer – a website that aims to highlight internet […]
Collapse of Black Tip Travel confirmed
A business travel agency facing questions about allegations of fraud by customers left out of pocket has collapsed. Black Tip Travel confirmed that the business, based in Tonbridge in Kent, ceased trading last month. Owner and sole director Dale Whitney admitted he could have dealt with the situation better. The firm, founded in June 2017, […]
Fake sickness claim customers posted positive reviews
A couple who posted a glowing review on TripAdvisor and then claimed to be ill on the same Tui holiday ten months later have been found fundamentally dishonest in court. Tanya and Kieran Tuson, both 36 and of Andover, had stayed all-inclusive at Jaz Mirabel Park Hotel in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, in August 2015. […]
Barclays warns consumers of villa fraud
Barclays has issued a warning to holidaymakers not to be taken in by scams when buying villa holidays. It says 37% of villa scams, reported by its customers, result in losses of between £1,000 and £5,000. Its research, which also questioned more than 2,000 consumers, found that in 59% of reported cases the victims were […]
Tipto agents believe cyberattack is low possibility
Nearly 75% of agents believe it is unlikely their businesses will fall victim to a cyberattack. More than half of the 62 agents polled by Tipto said they were prepared to deal with such an attack. The poll found 74% thought a cyberattack against their agency was a low possibility and 6% thought there was […]
Travel agent arrested over theft from veterans
A travel company has been accused of stealing thousands of pounds from a charity helping injured veterans. Black Tip Travel Ltd, which has been seeking insolvency advice, is alleged to have taken money set aside for flights to New Zealand paid by the charity Pilgrim Bandits to stage a bike ride. A group of 22 […]