A month ago, for example, I had a grandmother from Manchester in my office who almost fell apart. She had put aside £15,000 for her family Umrah trip, money which was now lying in an offshore account held by a fraudster. The “agency” she’d trusted? A WhatsApp business account with a cloned logotype and no paper.
Operating as an ATOL-bonded Umrah provider (License 12834) in the UK, I’ve seen something worrying about scammers when it comes to Umrah: They’re growing. They’re mutating more rapidly than most pilgrims can uncover them.
The £125M Question No One is Talking About
UK Muslims spent a jaw-dropping £125m to travel Hajj and Umrah together in a year. That cash, though, draws organised crime networks that’ve developed a simple recipe: take advantage of the faithful, vanish before departure and repeat.
Such non-existent packages made 2019 the worst year on record, with families forking out as much as £5,000 per person. The Birmingham-based operation was subsequently ordered to pay £43,000 for falsely advertising itself as ATOL-protected — but by then dozens of pilgrims had already seen their savings disappear.
The true question isn’t whether there are scams. It’s if you can recognize them before you turn into the next statistic.
Four Scam Types Coming to Snatch Dreams (and Life Savings)
The Social Media Impersonator
Scammers clone established agencies’ names, set up professional-looking Facebook pages and then shift conversations to WhatsApp Business accounts. They’ll even send you “confirmation emails” from hotels and airlines — reservations they will soon cancel after accepting your deposit.
The same day they were allegedly booked, one family learned their flights had been cancelled. The airline didn’t even have this agent’s ATOL number because they’d made it up.
The 50% Discount Trap
When packages drop by half to market rate, there’s a reason. The price won’t add up: An honest agency can’t sell you a five-star hotel in Makkah for the price of a budget one.
You feel compelled to “act fast” before the deal is no longer available. That urgency? Made to slip through them.
The Unlicensed Sub-Agent
Some operators say they’re ‘partnered with’ or ‘working under’ licensed agency. If things go south, the licensed agency has no record of them. You paid a middleman who has no legal power to sell Umrah packages from Manchester or at other pilgrimage times.
The Travel Formalities-Only Scam
Travel Formalities fraudsters offer tourist or Umrah Travel Formalitiess to perform Hajj in these black out periods. Here’s what they won’t say: Mecca is only accessible to visitors with promulgation of Hajj Travel Formalitiess issued from the official Nusuk portal. You’ll land in Saudi Arabia with incorrect paperwork and be turned away.
The 3 Tier Phone Verification System That WORKS
From having processed in excess of 2,000 Umrah bookings I have developed a verification checklist which identifies 95% of fake agents before you part with your money.
| Verification Layer | Genuine Agency | Fake Agency Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| ATOL Protection | Issues certificate at booking with verifiable number on atol.org.uk | Claims protection without certificate or number doesn’t verify |
| Companies House | Active status with 2+ years trading history and an actual address | Recently registered (<1 year), dissolved status, or virtual office only |
| Saudi Ministry | Listed on eservices.haj.gov.sa under authorized UK agents | Not found on official registry despite claims |
| Payment Methods | Card payments with fraud protection, itemized invoices | Cash-only, bank transfers to personal accounts, crypto payments |
| Physical Presence | Verifiable office you can visit, landline phone | P.O. box addresses, mobile-only contact, no office access |
How to Actually Verify (Step-by-Step)
Check ATOL: Visit atol.org.uk and type in the agency’s stated number. The company name should be exactly the same. Our license (12834) under verification reads “Aqdas Travel” – if not, it is fraudulent.
Verify Companies House: Search find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk to check out the company registration number. Check the name of the directors and registered address. Take caution if the company was incorporated within the past year.
Verify Saudi Permission: Visit eservices.haj.gov.sa, then click on “Travel Agents,” and pick the “United Kingdom” and your city. The sale of Umrah services is only legal for agencies in the list.
Google the Address of the Office: Make sure that there is Street View image of an actual office at the address. Fraudsters regularly list business centers, or virtual offices where they have no genuine presence.
If You Suspect a Scam What to Do
You found some red flags but have already paid a deposit. Don’t panic—but do act immediately.
First, Contact Your Bank: If you filed the payment with your debit or credit card, contact your bank and ask them to process a chargeback within 120 days of the transaction. Card payments have section 75 protection for purchases over £100. Bank transfers are more difficult to claw back, and that’s why scammers favor them.
Report to Action Fraud: Call 0300 123 2040 or visit actionfraud.police.uk. Each report helps the authorities to see a pattern and perhaps stop operations aimed at others like you.
Notify the Saudi Embassy: Report scam agents to prevent them from preying on pilgrims of other nationalities. The Saudi government rigorously keeps track and has the power to rescind licenses.
Report it to Trading Standards: Your local trading standards department may be able to investigate or even prosecute under consumer protection legislation.
Don’t Stay Silent: Many victims feel ashamed and do not report. Your story could prevent the next family from enduring such anguish.
The Questions British Pilgrims Really Ask Me
What is the reasonable price for an Umrah package?
£1,200-£3,500 per person (depending on how close your hotel is to Haram, time of year and the airline). Anything much lower than that, and you’re either cutting important corners or in the middle of a con. Prices go up by 40-60% during Ramadan for demand. Our 3-star Umrah packages offer transparent pricing with no hidden costs.
Can I perform Umrah in 2020 without a package or agent?
Yes, via the platform Nusuk (nusuk.sa), for applying for Travel Formalitiess, and book your own flights and hotels. But this takes more preparation and you won’t be able to rely on group support or someone telling you what to do. But for first-time pilgrims, reputable agencies offer crucial on-ground support.
What if an agency has mostly favorable Google reviews?
Check review patterns. Fake reviews cluster on a given day, deploy generic praise (“great service, definitely recommend”) and are lodged by new accounts that have no other activity. Real reviews will include actual specifics, such as hotel names, flight times or a staff member’s name.
ATOL protection on Umrah by law?
Not for Umrah anyway (it is mandatory for Hajj), but any company selling a flight-inclusive package to UK customers needs ATOL. They are operating illegally, if they don’t include ATOL flights.
What is the difference between ATOL and IATA protection?
Your money is protected if the agency goes under — you either finish your trip or you get reimbursed. With IATA accreditation, an agency has the ability to issue airline tickets directly. Both are significant, however ATOL is crucial to financial protection.
How do I check for hotel bookings prior to travel?
Ask for confirmation numbers from your agency and then contact the hotels directly using phone numbers found on their official sites (not ones given to you when booking by an agency). Make sure there’s a reservation with the same room type on your dates you paid for.
What if I find out that it’s a scam once I am in Saudi Arabia?
Call the British consul in Riyadh on (01) 488 0077 and your employer’s UK office straight away. If your agency has ATOL protection, they can book some alternative accommodation. Unprotected, you’re on your own for accommodations and have to sue once you return.
The Protection That Matters Most
Families ask me the same question every week: ‘How do we know you’re legitimate?’
It’s the right question. In a business that often requires faith to meet finance, trust needs the verification.
Check our ATOL license. Visit our Manchester office. Call the Saudi Ministry and ask if we’re authorized. Because honest agencies don’t merely say thank you for scrutiny — we demand it.
Your pilgrimage need more than just promises for protection. Make sure you have it before you pay a single pound.