Holiday booking fraud costs holidaymakers £6.7m
As many as 4,700 unsuspecting holidaymakers and other travellers had £6.7 million stolen by fraudsters last year.
The sale of airline tickets (47%) and accommodation bookings (38%) were the most common types of fraud, a new report reveals today.
The average amount lost per person was more than £1,500 – up by a quarter on the previous year.
Travel fraud also had a major impact on the health or financial well-being of almost half of victims.
The impact was so severe on 575 victims that they had to receive medical treatment or were at risk of bankruptcy.
The level of travel fraud reported to the police jumps in the summer and in December – a clear indication that fraudsters are targeting the peak holiday periods and people travelling to visit friends and family.