Category: Latest Fraud News

Loveholidays warns of fake callers posing as its staff

Online travel agency Loveholidays is warning customers that fraudulent callers are posing as Loveholidays staff. A message on its Facebook page says: “We have been informed that fake callers posing as loveholidays representatives have been targeting our customers and asking them to provide bank details in order to pay a £25 refund processing fee. “These […]

Report coronavirus related cybercrime

Travel companies are being urged to report coronavirus related cyberattacks to travel anti-fraud group Profit. The plea comes as Profit joins the police task squad tackling coronavirus related fraud and cybercrime. The Fraud Advisory Panel Covid-19 Task Force, which includes representatives from the City of London Police, telecommunications and broadband industry and various government departments […]

Court action for gents who ripped off Muslim pilgrims

A Leicester travel agent that fraudulently sold pilgrimage trips to Mecca has been ordered to pay over £100,000 in legal costs and compensation to its victims. Al Shafqat Hajj Ltd illegally used stationery containing the symbols of both the Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL) and the International Air Travel Association in its business which specialised […]

Cathay Pacific fined over ‘serious’ cyber security breach

Cathay Pacific has been hit with a £500,000 fine for failing to protect the security of its customers’ personal data. The penalty was imposed by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) after the personal details of more than 9.5 million customers were exposed, including 111,578 from the UK, over almost four years from October 2014. The […]

Police hunt travel agent

An online travel agent is being sought by police after allegedly duping customers out of £125,000 and ruining dozens of holidays. Hayley King, 34, is accused of taking money from victims who were told her firm Around The World Travel had booked their trips. Holidaymakers reported turning up to find hotel rooms had not been […]

Europol cracks down on airline CNP fraud

In an international operation that took place at 200 airports across the world, crime agency Europol has arrested 79 individuals suspected of using stolen credit card data for the online purchase of flight tickets. Airline companies are among the most affected by card-not-present fraud. It is estimated that the airline industry’s losses have reached close […]

Jet2holidays wins landmark fake sickness claims appeal

Jet2holidays has won a “landmark” court appeal which allows it to issue contempt of court proceedings against holidaymakers who withdrew dubious claims of being sick while on holiday. The Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the tour operator, which will now press ahead with legal action against a couple from Nottingham who pulled out […]

Thomas Crooks: Fraudsters target refund process

People trying to claim refunds on flights and hotels booked with collapsed holiday giant Thomas Cook have been warned about possible fraudsters trying to get hold of their details. Britain’s aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said this afternoon it had been forced to take “urgent action” against fraudulent activity in relation to the […]

Big rise in fraud attacks against airlines

Fraud attack rates against airlines have risen dramatically over the last year while attacks on the hotel sector have fallen. According to the latest Fraud Attack Index from e-commerce fraud prevention specialists, Forter, attack rates on airlines have jumped 61%. Forter said the increase can likely be attributed to the rise in loyalty programme issues […]

How to tackle fake chargebacks

Travel agents are being told how they can challenge fraudulent chargebacks by customers. A recent study by fraud management and chargeback protection services specialist ClearSale in February suggested that as much as 86% of chargebacks are potentially fraudulent. Chargebacks are when a transaction is reversed and the bank takes money paid to the retailer and […]

Travel agent scam allegations investigated by BBC

A BBC investigation into an alleged scam by a London-based travel agent will be aired tonight. Inside Out South on BBC One is due to be shown at 7:30pm this evening and then on iPlayer. It comes after complaints from holidaymakers who believe they have been scammed by a Hayley King’s London-based Around the World […]