HOLIDAYMAKERS from Devon & Cornwall lost nearly £140k to holiday fraud, new figures show.

Last year a total of 6,640 reports of holiday fraud were made to Action Fraud with holiday makers losing a combined total of £12.3 million.

Of these, 126 cases were reported to Devon & Cornwall Police, with local people losing a combined total of £138,213.00 to holiday fraud, or on average £1,096.93 per person.

This comes as the UK Civil Aviation Authority, which runs the ATOL scheme, is urging consumers to use its ‘Check an ATOL’ tool to make sure their holiday provider has an ATOL Licence.

Michael Budge, Head of ATOL at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: ‘In the run up to Black Friday, we are encouraging people to research thoroughly before booking their next holiday, as there can be a risk of getting caught out by hidden costs and extras, or potentially booking with fraudulent companies.

‘We urge consumers to check for ATOL protection, book by credit card where possible and take out travel insurance to offer layers of financial protection for their next package trip.’

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Some top tips to help prevent falling victim to holiday fraud:

► Do your research: before committing and booking your dream holiday, make sure that you do a thorough online search to ensure the company is credible.

► Check the web address: and don’t follow links from unsolicited messages.

► Pay safely: where possible use a credit card when shopping online.

► Beware of suspicious messages: be cautious of unexpected emails or messages offering unrealistic holiday deals. If you receive a suspicious email, report it by forwarding it to [email protected]