Worshippers in the borough hoping to make the once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca are being warned by Barking and Dagenham Council to be vigilant against scammers ahead of the annual religious tradition.
The alert comes after the UK’s official allocation for 2023 has already been filled and no further packages are available.
Saudi authorities have made changes to restrict the number of people permitted to attend the pilgrimage, with prospective pilgrims only able to get a place by entering an official online ballot through the Nusuk Hajj Portal.
Trading Standards are warning worshippers against falling for any scams promising to still offer places and packages.
One example circulating on social media and WhatsApp is the idea that King Mohammed Bin Salman is offering free Hajj packages to welcome guests to the Kingdom.
Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said: “Sadly scammers will look for opportunities anywhere – even people booking their once-in-a-lifetime trip to Mecca. In recent years there have been number of fraud cases in neighbouring London boroughs so we must all be vigilant.
“You can only get packages through official channels, so we advise you not to pay anyone claiming to offer a Hajj package or to feel pressured into registering with any agents claiming to work with a Saudi partner because you could end up losing all your money.”
Hajj is the religious pilgrimage to Mecca and is one of the five pillars of Islam. which every adult Muslim must undertake at least once in their lifetime if they can afford it and are physically able.
Worshippers are also being urged to check they meet the travel requirements, including having had a full dose of the Covid vaccination and Meningitis ACWY, as well as to take out separate travel insurance as the packages booked through the official Nusuk Hajj Portal do not benefit from ATOL protection.
For more information about the entry requirements and how to get packages in the future, visit nusuk.sa.
If you think that you have been a victim of Hajj fraud, contact the council’s Trading Standards Service by emailing tradingstandards@lbbd.gov.uk.