UK pilgrims lose almost £1 million to Hajj fraud

Nearly 25thousand Muslim pilgrims perform Hajj from the UK every year. ABTA finds each year several cases where pilgrims pay for travel engagements which are shown sub-standard or in the poor conditions, fraud leaving victims out of pocket by huge expanse. 

Some pilgrims have the lodgings they booked do not exist while others realize their whole a rip-off set up by illegal travel operators who are disappeared with thousands of pounds of their money. 

According to previous year's reporting figures, Hajj related fraud made to Action Fraud, marking a 143% increase and offending were London, the West Midlands, and Manchester. 

UK Muslims have lost almost £1 million (Dh4.97m) to bogus travel agents who target families booking first time trips to perform the Hajj. 

Between 2013 and 2017, victims lost £988,743 in the UK at a different platform. Per person met loss between £1,000 (Dh4,974) to £33,000 (Dh164,000). The City of London Police operation said that several Hajj fraud victims will have protected for years to be able to afford to travel to KSA and they will realize how they have been tricked by fraudsters. 

Since Hajj frauds are destroying the dreams of UK Muslims performing the fifth pillar of Islam once in a lifetime to Mecca, so that is why we are raising awareness of this crime to make sure the major pilgrimage (Hajj) safe and sound. However, Pilgrims should receive an ATOL Certificate as soon as they have paid any money to travel Agency. All UK traveling agencies have ATOL License to sell day off packages including Hajj and Umrah cheap package. So, pilgrims must check its validity on the CAA website. 

To overcome such shameful acts, the City of London Police will be working with Birmingham Trading Standards to comply with visits and checks on relevant travel agents. More work will be done to help educate officers on how to help victims of Hajj fraud and to ensure correct reporting. 

Pilgrims who are planning to travel to Hajj through online should avoid paying travel companies by direct bank transfer in which most legitimate companies have facilities with a bank to accept credit or debit cards. If pilgrims pay by bank transfer and the company moves to be fraudulent then it will be practically impossible to get money back. 

Some scams claim accommodation in Saudi Arabia but, they do not have while others illegitimate travel operators are disappeared with thousands of pounds. 

Action Fraud got 17 Hajj-related complaints in 2017, and most of those incidents were involving London, the West Midlands, and Manchester. 

Action Fraud said the 17 reports are just the "tip of the iceberg and average age of the fraud victims is 42. At taking action against Fraudsters, Babur Husain was found in Hajj scam from Greater Manchester. He was jailed 14 months for fraud in 2017 after claiming that he was organizing ATOL-protected Hajj tours. 

Consequently, to protect pilgrims against fraud is to ensure the company as a member of a recognized trade association such as ABTA. The basic purpose of ABTA is to minimize the chance of fraudulent companies joining. It also suggests verifying a company's ABTA membership through its website.

Don’t feel embarrassed to complain about Hajj Fraud

Hajj fraud

About 25,000 pilgrims make their arrangements go to Saudi Arabia from the UK to perform the major pilgrimage (Hajj). Every year ABTA experiences numerous cases where pilgrims pay for travel appointments that are found as sub-standard, or in the wickedest conditions, fraud leaving victims out of pocket by an unbelievable amount.

Association of British Hujaj (Pilgrims) estimates currently only 10% of victims of Hajj frauds.

How to avoid the rip-offs

First of all, to protect pilgrims against fraud is to ensure the company as a member of a recognized trade association such as ABTA. The basic purpose of ABTA is to minimize the chance of fraudulent companies joining. It also suggests verifying a company's ABTA membership through its website.

Pilgrims should receive an ATOL Certificate as soon as they have paid any money to travel Agency. All UK traveling agencies have ATOL License to sell holidays packages including Hajj and December Umrah cheap packages. So, pilgrims must check its validity on the CAA website.

Pilgrims who are planning to travel to Hajj through online should avoid paying travel companies by direct bank transfer in which most legitimate companies have facilities with a bank to accept credit or debit cards. If pilgrims pay by bank transfer and the company moves to be fraudulent then it will be practically impossible to get money back.

What action should be taken against fraud?

It is a responsibility to every victim that he must report fraud so that the convicts can be stopped further and that other people don’t fall victim to the same rip-off. If you have been a victim of Hajj fraud then don’t remain silent or feel embarrassed about coming forward. You must report the fraud to Action Fraud on certain cells. Your all reports will be reviewed by the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau that will identify ongoing criminals on the basis of investigations by local forces. You must report the true scale and nature of the threat so that law enforcement effectively can target the fraudsters who are causing harmful to the Muslim community.

Rashid Mogradia, CEO of the Council of British Hajjis says that though the majority of Hajj traveling operators are delivering true services, yet there are some fraud operators who seek to blemish the character of the industry by seeking to defraud British Muslim pilgrims of their life savings. He added that pilgrims should book with reputable and licensed tour operators. We wish the communal to back the praiseworthy work of the City of London Police in tackling Hajj Fraud and report the fraudsters to Action Fraud so that they can be brought to justice.

Victims can report it to Action Fraud at action fraud website or speak to a specialist adviser on 0300 123 2040. They can also use the online tool if they suspect they have been targeted.

If someone paid for the holiday using his credit card, report the fraud to the card issuer.

If victims have any information on crime and they would prefer not to speak to police, so they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers namelessly on 0800 555 111.