How travel fraud culture is on the rise
According to the latest statistics from Abta, the sector has seen a 425% rise in fraudulent bookings, costing the consumer an estimated £11.5m last year. As we have seen from yesterday’s news, organisations like Abta can also be the victims, highlighting the importance of future-proofing against these attacks.
It is not just the general public that is being scammed. Travel agents have increasingly found themselves at risk, with fraudsters using a wide range of methods to line their pockets.
While whiplash claims have been subject to a government clampdown, conversely, the number of claims firms specifically targeting tourists have soared in the last 12 months.
In particular, cowboy firms are systematically coaching British tourists to lie about holiday sickness to win thousands of pounds in compensation – a practice that experts have said is costing the industry millions.