Be aware of scams and fraud

Report Fraud and Cyber Crime

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have recently joined forces with Action Fraud, the national fraud and cyber-crime reporting centre, as part of new arrangements to investigate fraud.

Action Fraud takes all fraud and cyber-crime reports in the UK and provides support to citizens through both the contact centre and its web-based channels.

There are many forms of cybercrime and new cases are being uncovered all the time. One example is phishing emails. These are bogus emails with links to fake websites to trick people into entering personal details or account information.

As Action Fraud takes crime reports on behalf of the police, reporting directly is likely to be quicker and more convenient for you than visiting your local police station.

Download details from Action Fraud. You can report suspected cases of fraud online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by telephoning 0300 123 2040.

Over recent years there has been a number of scams targeting tourist accommodation. Here are some examples.

Recent Scams

Belfast/ Newry – Non payment

An accommodation provider in Belfast has advised us that they have recently been left out of pocket due the non payment of accommodation. The booking, made by Mr Joel McShane, on behalf of Mr Scott Gausden, allegedly working on a film production at Titanic Studios. The accommodation owner was promised payment via Bank of America, virtual card, and eventually cheque but after several failed attempts, the owner failed to secure payment. When pressed for payment, Mr McShane left the property earlier than expected, no longer responding to the owner's messages. A second similar incident involving the same guests has also been reported in the Newry area February 2023.

County Down – Non payment

An accommodation provider in Co Down has advised us that they have recently been left out of pocket due the non payment of a sizeable accommodation and dining bill. The guest referred to himself as Paul Boyle, 50 years old with a Canadian accent and advised he was a film director whose company would transfer funds from Singapore to cover the bill. When pressed for payment, Mr Boyle left the property and didn’t return. The incident has been reported to local police and Action Fraud.

County Londonderry – Fraudulent Credit Card Payment

An accommodation provider in Co Londonderry has advised us that a guest left the accommodation without settling the balance on the account. Following a report to PSNI, the guest made contact with the accommodation provider and made payment by phone utilising a stolen credit card.

Drug Importation via Hotels

The PSNI have reported an increase in importation of controlled drugs, mainly though not exclusively herbal cannabis, via transient addresses, such as hotels, guest houses and B&B’s.

The controlled drugs are being delivered to hotel guests during their stay by couriers and are large parcels. Bookings are being made on line via the OTA’s, and the guest stay tends to be short 1-2 nights.

Upon arrival the guest often advises the property that they are expecting a parcel and will ask reception to sign for it.

Parcels generally large boxes (approx 6-10 kgs) and delivered by various well known and reputable courier companies – DHL; UPS etc

Please alert your staff to look out for the following:

• Prepaid bookings on OTA’s with a different guest from the card holder. These will be short 1-2 night stays
• Guest advising of large parcel deliveries and asking for them to be signed for
• Guests waiting in reception for periods of time to collect parcels

If you have any suspicions about this issues or have concerns, please contact the PSNI Organised Crime Squad.

If you have concerns, it would be helpful if you could.

• Retain any CCTV of the individuals, booking in/checking out
• Record details of any suspicious packages – delivery company/delivery reference etc.
• Record all hotel booking references – name, credit card details, mobile phone number if provided
• Do not challenge any individuals or take any action that may place yourself or your staff in any danger

County Antrim Non-Payment

An accommodation provider in Co Antrim has advised us that they have recently been left out of pocket. A family comprising two adults, one child and a number of dogs had booked and paid to stay for one week, they are particularly interested in ‘pet friendly’ accommodation. They then extended their stay by a number of weeks and paid at the end with an invalid cheque.

County Down Non-Payment

A number of accommodation providers in Co Down have also reported a fraudulent booking from a lady called ‘Lisa’. The guest makes a booking for one week because of emergency house repairs and pays in full. She then returns for a few more weeks but at this stage leaves without paying. She usually stays in contact promising payment.

One way to prevent these types of scams is to take full payment on arrival or use online booking (ie take full payment at time of booking).

Room Email Scam

Tourism NI recently received an email from marshall.jeff.richard@gmail.com looking for “ROOMS IN FEBRUARY 20XX”. This email followed the typical format of scam emails ie it asked for 3 double rooms for 6 guests for 10 days and offered a deposit up front then asked for phone numbers and enquired which credit cards were acceptable. The email had a number of grammar and spelling errors. This would appear to be a cashback money transfer fraud - see further details below.

Other Scams

Cashback Money Transfer Fraud - Tourist Accommodation

A number of tourist accommodation providers have contacted Tourism NI regarding what appears to be booking scams.
The following information is designed to help make you aware of what form these scams may take, as they can often follow a similar pattern, and to encourage you to remain alert.

A booking enquiry is made (usually by email). Examples of the queries include:

• Reservations for priests coming for an event
• 2 couples from Russia on honeymoon
• A couple called Mr & Mrs Anderson searching for accommodation.
• Monique W Raynal and her daughter asking for a reservation.
• Mr & Mrs Lawson

The accommodation provider replies to the booking enquiry with details regarding availability and costs etc. In most cases the booking is being arranged by a friend who will request further information from you such as address and phone numbers. Even if you send notification that the booking is not suitable, you may still receive an email advising that the terms are acceptable.

The booking is then confirmed by the initial requestor and details of how the payment will be made (usually by credit card, travellers cheques or bankers draft). The payment is usually for a greater amount than the actual cost with the accommodation provider being asked to cash the travellers cheques/bankers draft/accept the credit card payment and to send the balance to another person such as a booking agent, travel agent, translator, etc, whose details are provided.

If you proceed, you usually find that the original payment is not honoured by your own bank as the credit card/bankers draft/travellers cheques are fake. Whilst a stolen cheque or bankers draft can be recalled by the bank, even after the funds have gone through the clearing cycle and are showing on your account, any money transferred by you cannot be recalled once sent.

This type of scam is common for all sectors, not just accommodation. Scams continue to circulate using different emails, details and names but following the same format.

For more information, you can simply type the words “cashback money transfer scam” into your internet search engine or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk.

Distraction Theft

Tourism NI is aware of an incident where callers to a property attempted to distract the proprietor in order to potentially steal from the premises.

This occurred when two callers requested to view a room and, whilst upstairs with the proprietor, two further persons entered the property and tried to access a downstairs bedroom.

Please be vigilant and take any necessary precautions when answering the door to callers.