CAA Warns Sports Fans About Travel-Related Scams
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has warned sports fans of the increased risk of travel scams. They are urged to check for ATOL protection before booking an overseas trip for any sporting event.
CAA tried to make passengers aware of the risk of not taking appropriate steps which could lead to fans losing hundreds of pounds. These travel scams encompass several tactics employed by scammers to trick unsuspecting members of the public. CAA has noticed a rise in the number of scammers targeting the fans of upcoming sporting events who are willing to take an overseas trip.
The most common ways sports fans fall victim to travel-related scams are clone comparison websites, fake airline websites, as well as booking through unlicensed companies.
Rugby fans are currently struggling to get flights and accommodation for the Rugby World Cup Finals in France which is set to kick off on September 8. As the demand for tickets soars, they can easily be targeted by these travel-related scams. This led the regulators to warn supporters of the sport to check for ATOL financial protection before booking to protect themselves from scammers preying on fans.
Scammers are also targeting fans of other upcoming events over the coming weeks and months including the European football for British teams and the Cricket World Cup in India.
The CAA, which is in charge of the ATOL scheme, implores sports fans to check whether their travel company is licensed and make sure their booking is financially protected by ATOL.
Fans can also protect themselves by taking out travel insurance and avoiding replying to unsolicited emails, texts, social media or calls with offers. They should also make any overseas travel booking with a credit card if they have one as most major credit card providers protect online purchases and are obliged to refund you in certain circumstances.
Michael Budge, the head of ATOL of the UK CAA, said: "Unfortunately, big sporting events such as the Rugby World Cup Finals often kick off particularly focused scams, including fake deals being posted online and criminals posing as reputable travel agents.
“We don’t want to see people being disappointed or miss any oversees sporting trip, so our top tips are to check via our website if the company is ATOL licensed before booking, but also take other appropriate steps such as using a credit card, taking out travel insurance and be mindful that if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.”
Some of the basic tips one should follow for making bookings include looking for the ATOL logo, watching out for hidden costs, doing your own research and booking travel insurance.