Holiday scam company www.sunmedresorts in court
Scammed holidaymakers hoping to get their money back
In a continuing effort to provide the best information and advice for holidaymakers, Holidaywatchdog.com has been tracking the progress of a holiday scam on its forum and can report that the perpetrators of the scam are due to stand trial in Southwark Crown Court on 7th January 2008 which is expected to last eight weeks.
The four defendants; Evangelia Liogka, Christakis Philippou, Peter Kemp and Timothy Entwisle were charged with conspiracy to defraud and were remanded in custody for several weeks. Conditional bail was granted to the four defendants in October 2006.
The next court date is 28th June 2007 where a hearing will deal with applications to dismiss the case by two of the defendants. The dismissal hearing will be followed by a further plea and case management hearing at a date to be set by the court.
The five websites being investigated are:
· www.sunmedresorts.com
· www.unbeatableholidays.com
· www.holidaysforunder200pounds.com
· www.holidayrez.com
· www.holidayez.com
The arrest of the defendants came about after hundreds of holidaymakers reported on the Holidaywatchdog.com forum alleging that the group of websites were taking money for holiday and hotel bookings without actually booking the holiday. Many holidaymakers have turned up at their booked hotel to find that there is no such booking leaving them stranded. The scam is thought to have costs each individual as much as £4,000.
Holidaywatchdog.com publishes thousands of real video and written reviews every month added to its web site by holidaymakers across the UK. Holidaymakers can write or record the truth about their accommodation and about the resort they stayed in so others can avoid making mistakes when booking a holiday.
Visit www.holidaywatchdog.com – your impartial guide to better holidays.
John H said,
August 27, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
My step-daughter was one of those unfortnates who lost her holiday (and money) to the scammers.
Thanks to the involvement of your web-site and forum contirbutors, the Police could not ignor our consolidated effort to raise the profile of this case - well done to the Fraud Squad for bringing this case to trial.
Please keep all informed of any news.
Regards, JOHN H
Mrs Norah Bennett said,
August 30, 2007 @ 7:12 am
I booked a holiday through sunmedresorts.com paid by building society cheque and lost £1900 I hope these bastards get put away for a long time and rot in hell
I just could not believe it when I heard about this scam on GMTV.
I gave a statement to the fraud squad