Alleged caravan scam ruins family holiday

Jennifer Chown, mother of five, paid £500 for a caravan holiday in Newquay only to find the caravan did not exist.

The news came only 24 hours before the holiday was about to start, leaving the Exmouth couple, their children and several other of their family members that were due to join them, devastated. Exeter police are concerned this alleged scam may have effected other families across the county.

Mrs Chown explained that she had booked the holiday because her husband Kevin had just been given the all clear after suffering with cancer. Her children were all very excited after seeing pictures of the caravan site on the internet.

Mrs Chown said that she found the advert for the caravan on Facebook and even made the trip to the apparent owners address in Dawlish to pay for the holiday up front. She said the lady she had been in contact with seemed lovely, but when the keys failed to arrive by recorded delivery she knew something must be wrong.  Mrs Chow then checked Facebook to find that others had been caught out and that the couple had gone bankrupt or the caravan sold without letting anyone know. She went on to explain that she and her husband, who run their own child minding business, could not afford a holiday abroad and that this was supposed to be a real treat for the family.

Devon and Cornwall police are investigating this matter.

For those that own their caravan, make sure you protect yourselves against any other problems that could spoil your summer holiday. Talk to Coast about an insurance policy that protects you against the effects of fire, flood, theft, storm, accidental or malicious damage. Our static caravan policies include legal benefit cover up to £50,000 and our touring policies up to £100,000 for an additional £15.00.