HAJJ FRAUD FACTS
• 42 is the average age of a Hajj fraud victim
• Police have reports of victims losing anything from £1000 - £33,000
• The Association of British Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK estimates that only 10% of Hajj fraud isreported
• 25,000 British Muslims travel for Hajj each year
• British Muslims spend as much as £125 million on pilgrimages annually
Source incl: CBHUK.org
CONTACT DETAILS
Telephone :
City of London Police Fraud Desk -
020 7601 6999
Action Fraud -
0300 123 2040
HAJJ FRAUD
While many Hajj travel operators provide a good service, there is an element which is disorganised, non-professional and in some cases fraudulent. In some cases, fraudulent tours are being sold at up to 50% of the normal price, but shortly before departure the tour operator closes, leaving people with no tour and no way of getting their money back.
Partners in the Muslim community and travel industry are working with the City of London Police and National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) to tackle this threat.
The Head of Economic Crime at the City of London Police, Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Head, said:
“Each year Hajj fraud is destroying the dreams of an untold number of people who believe they are about to make their own pilgrimage to Mecca. The NFIB is working together with the Muslim community to shine a light on the fraudsters who continue to cause so much pain.
“The more we know of this crime the more we can do to stop it, so I would urge anyone who has fallen victim to Hajj fraud to contact the police.”
Steps to avoid fraud
Hajj fraudsters do not discriminate against age, gender or location. In the months leading up to the Muslim pilgrimage of Hajj, organised crime groups are targeting licensed travel companies to advertise fraudulent deals to Saudi Arabia in their name. There are a number of things you can do to limit your chances of becoming a victim:
If you have been a victim of Hajj Fraud
Please don’t suffer in silence or feel embarrassed about coming forward - please visit the dedicated page by City of London Police - click here
or report directly via Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk
Asif Sadiq, who is the chairman of the Muslim Consultative Committee said:
“The Muslim community needs to ensure that all its members are aware of Hajj fraud and stress how important it is for them to support the police in any way that will help them bring these criminals to justice.”