Kent Trading Standards Advise on Avoiding Holiday Fraud

National Fraud Investigation Bureau (NFIB) join forces with ABTA, Get Safe Online and Action Fraud to launch national holiday fraud campaign

We all look forward to our holidays, and often they can cost a considerable amount of money, which most of us cannot afford to lose. Unfortunately more and more people are being affected by holiday booking fraud, which means that not only do you not get your holiday; you normally end up losing your money too.

New research by the NFIB shows that in 2012 1,000 cases of holiday fraud was reported costing consumers approximately £1.5M.

For more information go to the City of London Police website at www.cityoflondon.police.uk/CityPolice/Media/News/190413-holidayfraud.htm

According to the YouGov poll for ABTA:

• 1 in 10 consumers (9%) do not research a travel company before booking
• a quarter of holidaymakers (27%) pay £200 or more as a deposit or upfront payment
• 7% of consumers are willing to pay £500 or more

For more information on how to avoid becoming a victim of a holiday fraud visit ABTA's website for more information at www.abta.com/go-travel/before-you-travel/travel-tips/fraud

For advice on staying safe on line go to see https://www.getsafeonline.org/

If a company is unknown to you, always make checks to establish if they are a genuine company. You can check a website address by searching the Nominet website www.nominet.org.uk

Check the address they give on Google Earth and ask the company for a landline number and call them on it.

To report any concerns you have call Trading Standards via Citizen Advice Consumer Service on 08454 040506 or to report fraud call Action Fraud 0300 123 2040 www.actionfraud.police.uk.