Britons warned over holiday scams

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Britons planning holidays to Spain are being warned not to fall victim to bogus holiday clubs.

The Office of Fair Trading says the scams cost people from the UK millions of pounds every year, with the average victim losing more than £3,000.

It is highlighting the issue by handing out fake scratchcards of the kind used by holiday club touts at airports.

The scams persuade people to pay large upfront fees to join clubs which promise cheap holidays in the future.

High-pressure sales

The OFT says tricksters operating in Spain often use high-pressure sales techniques to lure people into lengthy presentations, after which they will be pressured to sign a contract.

Victims are often promised once in a lifetime opportunities, dream holidays for life, special one day only offers or cash back on joining.

However, those who sign up often find they have paid thousands of pounds for little more than access to a booking service, such as a website or phone number.

The OFT's head of consumer protection, Mike Haley, said victims were usually approached by while on holiday.

He told BBC News: "A young, attractive person approaches them in a resort, provides them with a scratchcard, which is inevitably a winner - but to claim your prize, you're then taken to a presentation.

"After a slick presentation, lasting three or four hours, people are conned into signing a contract."

Cooling-off period

He said holidaymakers were often "caught unawares" by bogus clubs which take advantage of the fact their victims are "not thinking" or may have had a few drinks.

Mr Haley said there were some genuine holiday clubs on offer but these would not pressure people into signing up on the day.

He said: "They will generally give a cooling-off period so that you can think about whether you want to make a sizeable investment and everything they promise you will be in the contract.

"Bogus holiday clubs won't give you any of those rights, won't respect you as a consumer and will try to make you sign up on the day so that you can't reflect on whether it's the right thing to do."