ABTA and partners launches consumer anti-fraud campaign
ABTA joins the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, Get Safe Online and Action Fraud for consumer anti-fraud campaign
ABTA – The Travel Association is partnering with Get Safe Online, Action Fraud and the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) for the second consecutive year to highlight the dangers of holiday booking fraud among consumers by raising awareness of common scams and providing advice on how to avoid becoming a victim.
The campaign, which is part of ABTA’s broader ‘look for the logo’ initiative, launches on Tuesday 4th March and will include the release of new research from the NFIB showing the scale of the problem and exposing common tactics and targets used by fraudsters who steal millions of pounds of holidaymakers’ money each year. It will encourage consumers to take important steps to avoid being defrauded including looking for ABTA membership when they book, thoroughly researching the travel companies before booking and using secure payment methods online. The campaign will also highlight how consumers and travel companies can report fraud to the relevant authorities.
As part of the campaign, partners have developed updated advice for consumers which will go live on partner websites, including via a dedicated url www.abta.com/fraud - from Tuesday 4th March.
Victoria Bacon, Head of Communications ABTA said: “We are pleased to be partnering again with the NFIB, Action Fraud and with Get Safe Online on such an important campaign. Fraudsters are swindling unsuspecting holidaymakers out of millions of pounds every year which is extremely distressing for the victims as well as damaging for the reputation of the travel industry. If we can raise awareness of the common scams, and provide advice on how to avoid being defrauded, then consumers will have more confidence when booking their holiday.”
About Get Safe Online
Get Safe Online (www.getsafeonline.org), which is now entering its seventh year, is the UK’s national internet security awareness initiative. A joint partnership between the Government, the National Crime Agency (NCA), Ofcom and private sector sponsors from the worlds of technology, communications, retail and finance, the initiative continues to educate, inform and raise awareness of internet security issues to encourage confident, safe use of the internet. getsafeonline.org is supported by the Cabinet Office, Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS), Home Office, National Crime Agency (NCA), National Fraud Authority & Action Fraud, Ofcom, HSBC, Barclays, Microsoft, Gumtree, Symantec, Kaspersky Lab, Bob’s Business, Creative Virtual and PayPal.
About Action Fraud
Action Fraud is the national reporting centre for fraud and internet crime, and provides a central point of contact for information and advice. The service is run by the National Fraud Authority – the government agency that helps co-ordinate the fight against fraud in the UK. Action Fraud works with partners in law enforcement - the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, run by the City of London Police - to make sure fraud reports reach the right place. All confirmed reports of fraud from Action Fraud are passed on to the NFIB. Members of the public, the police, businesses and charities can report to Action Fraud online or on the phone. If a crime is established, victims will be provided with a crime reference number.
Visit www.actionfraud.police.uk or call the contact centre on 0300 123 2040 to speak to a specially trained advisor.
About National Fraud Intelligence Bureau
The NFIB is a national crime reporting and intelligence development centre for fraud reported by individual victims, small businesses and a wide range of public and private sector organisations. Hosted by the City of London Police, it is a key partner and driver of the Government’s counter fraud strategy and acts as a central co-ordination point for the regional law enforcement response to fraud and economic crime. It uses one of the most advanced police intelligence systems in the world to identify repeat and serious offenders and to share across sectors new and emerging and fraud trends with the aims of early crime prevention and victim protection, and proactive disruption of fraudsters.