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21 Apr, 2013

Scammed tourists begin class action – Sydney Morning Herald

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Australian holidaymakers are pursuing a class action lawsuit against one of the world’s largest banks after hundreds of false accounts were used in an international travel scam.

Over the past 18 months, tourists have wired millions of dollars into accounts with London-based Barclays Bank to pay for luxury accommodation in dream destinations around the world. The vacations are booked through popular holiday rental websites including HomeAway and FlipKey, which is mostly owned by TripAdvisor.

However, the Barclays Bank accounts are run by criminals who, after hacking the sites and ”phishing” the original email inquiry, assume the identity of the property owner and steer customers into making bogus bookings.

Read the rest: Scammed tourists begin class action.