Police and trading standards to carry out checks on travel agents in Hajj fraud crackdown
Police and trading standards officers plan to carry out visits and spot checks on travel agents over the next few months in a new clamp-down on Hajj-related crimes, which rocketed 143% last year.
Individuals planning pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia were conned out of as much as £33,000 each, according to the national fraud reporting centre.
Between January 1 and December 31, there were 17 reports made to Action Fraud, which said the majority of victims were in London, the West Midlands and Manchester.
Between 2013 and 2017, Muslims who’d booked pilgrimmages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia reported fraud totalling £988,743.
Police and figures within the Muslim community believe the actual figure could be much higher as many victims feel too embarrassed or afraid to report the crime.
Action Fraud is hoping a new campaign to raise awareness of the crime will encourage more people to report Hajj-related offences.
Over the next few months, the City of London Police will be working with Birmingham Trading Standards to carry out visits and checks on travel agents.
Also, more work will be done to help victims of Hajj fraud and to ensure correct reporting.
Detective Sergeant Kevin Ives from the City of London Police urged Muslims planning trips to check online to make sure the companies they book with are actually ABTA members and ATOL-protected, rather than simply using false logos.
He said: "Many victims will have saved for years to be able to afford to travel to Saudi Arabia and as a result will be absolutely devastated when they find out that they have in fact been conned by fraudsters.
"Hajj fraud continues to destroy the dreams people have of making a once in a lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca, which is why, together with our industry partners, we are raising awareness of this crime."
Head of Trading Standards at Birmingham City Council Sajeela Naseer, said: "In prosecuting rogue travel agents for Hajj travel fraud over many years, we have learnt that pilgrims are often unaware of their legal rights or may try to resolve the issues themselves rather than approach the authorities.~
"Fraud is a criminal act and we would like the Muslim community to feel confident in reporting their concerns to either trading standards or the police knowing that we understand their problems and that we will act on the information they give us."
ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said: "Every year fraudsters target pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia, as very large sums of money are at stake. ABTA members selling to the Muslim community have reported to us that fraudsters rely on the fact that some pilgrims may not be aware of the strict regulations governing package travel, or the benefits of booking through companies who belong to a recognised trade body, like ABTA. "
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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