Scam warning for air passengers

Holidaymakers heading for Spain from the North East have been warned of the dangers of bogus holiday clubs.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) said the scams cost people from the UK millions of pounds every year, with the average victim losing more than �3,000.

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

The OFT is handing out warnings in the style of fake scratchcards at Newcastle and Durham Tees Valley airports.

Staff from the European Consumer Centre in Spain will also meet UK passengers arriving at Malaga Airport to reinforce the message about holiday clubs.

An OFT spokesman said: "Every year thousands of holidays to Spain are ruined when holidaymakers fall for the high-pressure selling techniques of bogus holiday clubs.

"When they return home they realise they have paid thousands of pounds for near worthless contracts."

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