Derbyshire holidaymakers conned out of £100,000

Police are warning Derbyshire holidaymakers to be cautious when booking trips online after travellers were conned out of millions last year.
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A recent report by the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, revealed how fraudsters stole £11.5million from unsuspecting travellers in 2015.

This includes 42 cases in Derbyshire, totalling a loss of £101,337.

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The most common fraud type reported relates to the sale of airline tickets, along with an increase in the number of ccounts being hacked into on popular sharing accommodation websites.

Detective Inspector Rob King, head of the Derbyshire economic crime unit said: “Families work hard to save up for their holiday and fraudsters are taking advantage of this by offering deals that seem too good to miss.

“Thankfully, by following some simple yet effective steps, you can enjoy your holiday without falling victim to holiday booking scams.”

Over a 12 month period, 4,910 cases of holiday booking fraud were reported to Action Fraud.

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The most common types relate to accomodation, airline tickets, sports and religious trips, timeshares and holiday clubs.

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Det Insp King said by following “simple yet effective steps, peopel can enjoy their holiday without falling victim to these scams.

He said: “Firstly, always do your research and check that the company and the website address that you are using are legitimate and have not been altered, such as changing from .com to .org.

“Secondly, look for the logo. Check whether the company that you are using is a member of a recognised trade body such as ABTA. This offers extra reassurance that the organisation is trustworthy.

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“Finally, use your instincts, if the deal sounds too good to be true then it probably is, so always take the time to check the details of your holiday before booking.”

For more information and advice on how to avoid these types of crime, visit www.derbyshire.police.uk/stampoutfraud.