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 to £33,000 with the average reported loss to victims last year being £5,869.
The crimes had a total reported value of £988,743 and between 2013 and 2017. The average age of a Hajj fraud victim is 42.
Law enforcement and figures within the Muslim community remain convinced that these numbers represent just the tip of the iceberg, with many victims feeling too embarrassed, ashamed or frightened to report what has happened to them, according to police.