A National Campaign To Tackle Hajj Fraud Within Muslim Communities Is Launched This Week

During the week of April 18-22, South Wales Police is supporting a campaign run by the City of London Police and the Council of British Hajjis which is aiming to raise awareness and encourage reporting of Hajj fraud within Muslim communities throughout the UK. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Fraudsters targeting Muslims booking trips to Mecca to celebrate Hajj remains a problem across the country. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

DI Jamie Holcombe of the South Wales Police Fraud Unit, said, ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This fraud directly targets members of the Muslim community. Every year more than two million Muslims celebrate Hajj by making the pilgrimage to Mecca in what is the world’s biggest annual gathering of people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Thousands of UK citizens attend to practise this religious observance, many of whom will have saved for years knowing that it will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​