People have lost up to �20,000

The UK's trading watchdog is stepping up its campaign to stop people signing up to bogus holiday club promotions.

The new campaign, which is being fronted by Esther Rantzen, aims to highlight the growing cost to consumers, estimated at �40m a year.

The Office of Fair Trading said complaints had doubled in a year, with unlucky consumers losing on average between �2,000 and �15,000.

Holiday clubs are marketed as a flexible alternative to timeshares, promising a lifetime of discounted luxury holidays anywhere in the world.

While some operators run legitimate businesses; others can leave people out of pocket.

Exploitation

Consumers who are caught out are particularly vulnerable because holiday clubs are not covered by timeshare law - and consumers have no automatic cancellation rights.

According to the OFT, elderly couples are particularly vulnerable or those in early retirement.

If you are approached by someone offering you a scratch card, or receive a phone call telling you have won a holiday, do not go to the presentation Office of Fair Trading spokesman

The tricksters use high-pressure sales techniques to lure people into lengthy presentations, which can last as long as six hours.

Typically they will try and entice people in by promising a lifetime opportunity, dream holidays for life, special one-day only offers or cash back on the scheme.

In reality, customers may spend thousands of pounds on little more than access to a booking service such as a website or phone number.

The consumer may then only end up being offered limited availability accommodation that is usually low star rather than luxury.

With the addition of expensive flights, supplements and taxes, it could end up costing more than holidays booked the normal way.

And by the time someone who signs up decides to book a holiday, the holiday club company could be out of business.

The tricksters operate in Spain and increasingly so in the UK.

If you are approached by someone offering you a scratch card, or receive a phone call telling you have won a holiday, do not go to the presentation. If you go to the presentation, do not sign the contract," said a spokesman from the OFT.