By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
Facebook Caravan Scams Target Holidaymakers
Scammers are exploiting Facebook to deceive people seeking caravan holidays, conning them out of their money. Ann Crofts, 53, from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, fell victim to a scam after paying a £75 deposit for a caravan holiday in New Quay, Ceredigion. She later discovered her personal details were used to set up a shopping account.
Meanwhile, a 17 year old girl who paid a £240 deposit to a Facebook advertiser was shocked to find that the caravan she booked at Trecco Bay Holiday Park in Porthcawl did not exist. A spokesperson from Meta, the parent company of Facebook, stated that the platform does not tolerate fraudulent activities and is investigating the accounts in question. However, Which? consumer expert Lisa Webb highlighted the widespread nature of such scams and urged Facebook to do more to protect users.
Ms. Crofts was targeted after posting a request for a holiday stay in West Wales on a Facebook community page. A scammer posing as a caravan owner from a site owned by Haven initiated a conversation with her via direct message. Despite her initial concerns, Ms. Crofts proceeded with the booking. However, after suspecting the legitimacy of the exchange, she checked Haven's website and found that the scammer's details did not match the registered owner of the caravan. The scammer had sent her a certification of ownership with a blurred-out name.
Following the transaction, Ms. Crofts discovered that her personal information had been used to set up a fraudulent store card with retailer Next. After contacting the scammer to confront them, she was blocked and struggled to report the account on Facebook. She expressed frustration over the lack of response from the platform, emphasizing that social media companies should be more proactive in addressing such issues.
Another victim, Rebecca, 17, from Merthyr Tydfil, paid a £240 deposit for a caravan holiday at Trecco Bay Holiday Park, only to find out upon arrival that the caravan did not exist. When she contacted the police, she was informed that there was little they could do, as the scammer could be located anywhere in the world. Rebecca described the financial loss as significant for her family, especially during the challenging times they've faced.
Lisa Webb from Which? pointed out that holiday scams are particularly prevalent during the summer season, with scammers often targeting those seeking budget friendly options for home rentals, car rentals, and vacations. She criticized Facebook's current approach to handling suspicious accounts, calling it ineffective.
Trecco Bay Holiday Park expressed concern over the scam advertisements and advised people to book directly through their website or trusted partners to avoid falling victim. A spokesperson for Meta reiterated that fraudulent activity is not allowed on their platforms and encouraged users to report such incidents to both Facebook and law enforcement.
Haven also emphasized their commitment to guest and owner security, urging people to book directly through their official channels to avoid scams. They reported any fraudulent social media posts to Facebook for removal.
