Travel Weekly always likes to pack a punch on its front page, but this week's headline 'Maureen fights fraud' has really ruffled feathers. The story was about columnist Maureen Hill uncovering fraudsters targeting agencies in the West Country.
The letters sent in responding to the story range from agents telling us their own experiences, to agents mystified why this story made the front page, saying it is an everyday occurrence.
Personal Travel Consultant Sharon Hard wrote in saying: "I cannot see why this has made the front page of Travel Weekly...If I got a mention every time I reported someone I would be famous by now!"
As regular readers will know, Travel Weekly has been running an anti-fraud campaign, helping agents fight one of the fastest growing crimes in the country. In February the UK travel industry launched PROFiT, a group dedicated to tackling fraud in the industry. Travel Weekly was the official media partner for the launch.
Working closely with police, our feedback is that the type of scam experienced by Maureen is an ongoing problem and while savvy agents are well-equipped to respond, there are others who are still unaware of the issue and therefore vulnerable. In fact, Maureen has been contacted by another agent in the area saying it was targeted by the same people.
The aim of the front page was to highlight the problem to all agents through Maureen, one of our most popular contributors. Do you think it was worthwhile?
Definitely! Keep up the good work!
It's important to have a way of sharing the information about the latest scams so fraudsters don't think of the travel business as a soft touch.
I have 2 fraud situations taking place as we speak which are as follows:-
The first is a family of 8 who have booked rooms in 2 hotels in Canada, 2 hotels in Australia and 1 hotel in Israel for a 10 day stay. They are all for exactly the same dates.
All 5 hotels have telephoned me saying that the rooms were requested in my company name. What I don't know is how many other hotels did not smell a rat and have confirmed the reservations.
The 2nd case is a company that is selling a work permit to a non eligible EU lady for £385.00 which she has paid up front. She will be employed at a live in au-pair with a salary of £1500 per month plus £150 per week pocket money. Sounds good to me!!
So far only one case using our name has come to light but there could be many more.
I have reported the Hotel fraud situation to the Police who gave me a file number but said that there was nothing they could do. I also contacted the Canadian and Australian Tourist Board in order that they may be able to warn their Hoteliers of the scam that is going on.
I have also been in contact with our Home Security & Immigration Department regarding the false work permits.
I personally welcome any articles written by the trade press that are practical and deal with issues experienced today..... like fraud is.
Not sure this particular story merits the front page - but the principle of moving towards a practical info based trade press is one I support fully.
Unfortunately these scams are rife, there is not much new in what Maureen was faced with. I have received several e-mails requesting flight quotations and bookings, credit card details to follow. A typical one arrived this morning requesting a booking from Accra to Joburg to Singapore and return, leaving next week on SAA economy; came from Rev.Williams. He could be anywhere!! But it is so obviously a scam/fraud, but I suppose these people work on the assumption that if just one in 500 e-mails is succesful then they have scored with the stolen credit card.
If you don't know who is contacting you, the answer is simple. Ditch the e-mail and do something more worthwhile.
A different fraud I have heard of is when travel agencies have counter top currency service. The "customer" rings an order in which is then placed for delivery the next day and it is intercepted by the fraudsters at the agency before it is delivered to the correct staff. (before opening time)