Mecca trips fraudster warning

BRITISH Muslims and anybody else booking trips to Mecca this September to celebrate Hajj are being warned about the threat of fraudsters trying to con them with bogus travel packages.

South Yorkshire Police is supporting City of London Police’s campaign targeted at keeping people out of the clutches of fraudsters as they search for the best deals to take them to Saudi Arabia for what for many will be a once in a life-time trip.

The campaign is being supported by the Council of British Hajjs, Get Safe Online, ABTA, ATOL and Trading Standards, who will be raising awareness by social media.

The campaign will see officers speaking to Muslim community leaders and distributing Hajj fraud prevention leaflets in residential areas and local mosques.

Each year up to 25,000 British Muslims travel for Hajj, spending around £125 million on their pilgrimages.

Police said a significant number who have paid for tour packages for themselves and their family arrived in Saudi Arabia to discover their accommodation is either very low quality or does not even exist, while others had found their whole trip was a scam set up by illegal travel operators that have disappeared with their money.

Last year 87 people reported to Action Fraud that they had fallen victim to Hajj fraud, with the total losses running to £237,995.

But the British Council of Hajjis and police believe the true scale of this criminality is much greater.

Det Tony Fitzwilliam, for South Yorkshire Police, said: “We are pleased to be supporting this campaign, to help protect people from fraudsters seeking to make a fast buck.

“We know that June and July is the most common time for Muslims to book their Hajj trips, and many will be driven by emotions and will have saved for years to be able to make this trip.

“We will be working closely with Muslim groups and mosques in South Yorkshire to ensure the message gets out to as many people as possible.

“We would advise anybody looking to book their Hajj trip to make sure they do their research and don’t be pressured to go with a certain travel company. Talk to people who have already been on the pilgrimage to get advice on the best travel companies to go with.”

Anybody who feels they have been a victim of crime should contact South Yorkshire Police on 101 or call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.