Anti-holiday scam initiative launched

A campaign has been launched to highlight the danger of getting ripped off by Spanish holiday scams.

The initiative will see trading standards officers and the Scambusters team from the Office of Fair Trading present at UK airports throughout October to warn holidaymakers of the dangers of succumbing to the cons, consumer magazine Which? reports.

Among the scams forming the focus of the scheme are scratchcard-based cons.

These involve customers buying a card, which promises them a prize.

However, in order to claim their winnings they are required to travel a presentation during which they are persuaded into parting with up to thousands of pounds for the right to join an exclusive holiday club.

In fact, what often happens is that the buyer has simply paid vastly over the odds for access to holidays which are available at any high street travel agent.

It is thought that 400,000 British holidaymakers part with money in such scams in Spanish resorts annually.

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