A series of websites were used to con would-be holidaymakers out of their cash, police claim. The two unnamed people who have been arrested are a man in his sixties and a woman in her thirties. The pair have been charged and are being questioned by the fraud squad, said the Metropolitan Police.
"Two people have been charged after an investigation by the Fraud Squad into an online travel firm," said a statement from the Met. "Inquiries have focused on five websites trading under the names Fleetwood Holiday Ltd or Sun Orient Ltd, based in Islington, north London."
The police claim that the two individuals conned consumers into buying holidays that did not exist and paying for them up front. The pair would then disappear, leaving purchasers out of pocket.
A number of web addresses were used as fronts for the alleged scam. These included sunmedresorts.com, unbeatableholidays.com, holidaysforunder200pounds.com, holidayrez.com and holidayez.com, said the police.
The police have issued advice to consumers on what to do if they suspect they have been scammed. "If you booked a holiday with any of these websites [you should] call your credit card company and advise them of this transaction. Discuss whether to cancel the card or not. Ask them to send out claim forms."
The Consumer Credit Act provides protection to consumers against credit card fraud for most purchases.
"If you have paid by other means, i.e. debit card, ask about the chargeback service and if by cheque, if it has not cleared place a cancellation on the cheque."
Many bona fide travel agencies are registered with the Association of British Travel Agents and Air Travel Organisers' Licensing, and those bodies have urged consumers to check online to see if an agent is registered before paying for holidays.
