Press Release - 03/08/2015
Holiday Scams – British holiday makers losing millions
Edwin Coe, solicitors and specialists in fighting holiday scams, issued their annual review of holiday scams as the holiday season gets well under way with the warning to holiday makers not to fall for the tricks that are raking in millions of pounds for the crooks.
David Greene, senior partner of Edwin Coe LLP said:
“Holidaymakers and those booking holidays can be easy targets for the fraudsters, not just for an overpriced drink, but for scams that might cost them their life savings. We’ve pursued the fraudsters and those that support them and recovered millions of pounds but it could all be avoided with a little care. The relaxed atmosphere, a drink or two or just the prospect of getting away can lead to people dropping their guard and financial disaster.
Time share fraudsters and scams prey on the holiday mood. People are enticed into the selling process and presented with a package for future holidays that is untrue about the standard of accommodation and hides the true cost of the purchase. Those that have already been trapped are offered an escape but in addition to complete frauds the cost just keeps ramping up. Our advice is be very very careful about parting with money and if you do then always pay with a credit card. This offers you some protection against fraudsters.
Other holiday scams include the offer to purchase the dream home abroad at low cost. Always take local independent advice. Be extremely wary of buying off plan, as planning is often a major problem. It may not be there at all but if it is, it may not have been legitimately obtained. Be diligent and keep your guard. Again if you are buying, pay the deposit with a credit card.
Fraudsters are making a fortune out of holidaymakers booking homes on line. They either hack sites sending false payment details or phish sites to appear as the true owner. Again and again we see fraudsters opening accounts at High Street banks, setting up an account, operating it for a few weeks and disappearing.”
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About Edwin Coe LLP
Edwin Coe LLP is best known for its work in representing large groups of the public in claims relating to consumer issues, banking, shares. It was the first firm in the UK to specialise in non-conflict class actions and as a result has been involved in many of the major mass claims over 30 years including the Lockerbie Inquiries and litigation.
It is currently litigating for hundreds of investors in film investments against HSBC, for timeshare investors against Barclays Bank in relation to fraud and for investors in other schemes and for hundreds of truck owners in relation to a price-fixing cartel by manufacturers. It has represented 50,000 shareholders in a claim against the Government; 32,000 convenience store owners in competition issues; and 36,000 private shareholders in Northern Rock. It has recently settled a claim for hundreds of South American flower farmers in a claim against British Airways for price-fixing.
The firm also acts in mass torts and is representing claimant victims of the Hillsborough disaster and child abuse victims.
In addition, the firm undertakes public law issues and represented the first claimant in the Article 50 litigation, MPs in the proroguing litigation, the claimant in relation to a challenge under the Good Friday Agreement and, very recently, protesters to HS2 construction.
