British Muslims planning the sacred Haj pilgrimage are facing an escalating threat from sophisticated online fraudsters impersonating Saudi Arabia’s official booking platform, with reported losses surging to nearly £200,000 last year alone. UK authorities have issued urgent warnings as criminals pivot from traditional travel agent scams to creating convincing fake websites that mirror the legitimate Nusuk portal, exploiting the spiritual and financial commitment of aspiring pilgrims.
According to data obtained through freedom of information requests, aspiring pilgrims reported losses of £195,752 in 2025—a 30% increase from £150,000 in 2024. The City of London Police recorded 34 Haj-related fraud reports last year, with the highest individual loss reaching £64,000. However, the actual financial damage is believed to be far more extensive. The Council of British Hajjis estimates that as few as three percent of victims report such crimes, suggesting total losses could reach millions of pounds annually.
“We hope that our messaging to report crimes is hitting home, but we are also worried the criminals are finding new tactics after the pivot to Nusuk,” Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Ives, the City of London Police’s joint lead for Haj fraud, told investigators. “Our main issues were backstreet agents, dodgy agents selling packages they couldn’t deliver on or were never going to, and that’s been taken out of the game, largely, by Nusuk.”
The fraud patterns have evolved significantly in recent years. While earlier cases primarily involved unlicensed travel agents selling bogus pilgrimage packages, scams have increasingly migrated online. Investigators have raised particular concern about fake versions of Nusuk, the Saudi government’s official portal for booking all-inclusive Haj packages that pilgrims from eligible countries including the UK must use. With Haj expected to take place between May 25 and June 30 this year, and online package prices ranging from £4,500 to over £12,000 per person, the financial incentives for fraudsters are substantial.
Official figures reveal the highest number of fraud reports in a single month during 2025 occurred in May, with additional clusters in February and September. Most cases were classified as consumer and retail fraud involving misrepresentation or non-delivery of services, while several involved ticket fraud where purchased tickets were invalid or never supplied. Despite the growing problem, police made no arrests related to Haj fraud last year, noting that many offences now originate overseas. Authorities instead prioritize shutting down fraudulent websites and urge the public to report suspicious platforms quickly.
Pilgrims have been advised to book exclusively through the official Nusuk website and to use only authorized travel agents listed on the platform. The UK receives approximately 3,600 Haj places annually through the official quota system, making each legitimate spot particularly valuable. DCI Ives warned that fraudsters are adapting rapidly: “We are receiving a trickle of reports about fake Nusuk sites, a trend I’m concerned is being under-reported.”
As the pilgrimage season approaches, community organizations are amplifying warnings through mosques and cultural centers. The shift to digital platforms, while intended to streamline the pilgrimage process, has created new vulnerabilities that criminals are exploiting with increasing sophistication. Authorities emphasize that vigilance and verification remain the best defenses against these evolving scams.
Source: Dawn News