Action Fraud said crimes relating to travel to Mecca cost victims nearly £1m over the five-year period to the end of 2017.

Between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, Action Fraud received 17 reports of Hajj-related fraud, a 143% increase on the previous year.

The average cost to victims was £5,869, with hotspots for recorded offending in London, Manchester and the West Midlands.

Victims are reported to have lost anything from £1,000 and £33,000 between 2013 and 2017, amounting to £988,743. The average age of Hajj fraud victims is 42, and British Muslims spend up to £125m a year on pilgrimages.

Typical scams involve fraudsters posing as bogus travel operators, taking high-value bookings and then making off with the money.

Action Fraud though, after working with the Muslim community and the police, says the figures likely to be just the tip of the iceberg, with many victims too “embarrassed, ashamed or frightened” to make a report.

Some 25,000 British Muslims will book to trips to Mecca in Saudi Arabia over the coming months to perform Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to the holy monument.

City of London Police has pledged to work with Trading Standards in Birmingham to “carry out visits and checks on relevant travel agents” to guard against fraud.

Officers, meanwhile, will receive fresh guidance on how to help victims of Hajj fraud and ensure cases are correctly reported.

Detective Sergeant Kevin Ives said: “Many victims will have saved for years to be able to afford to travel to Saudi Arabia and as a result will be absolutely devastated when they find out that they have in fact been conned by fraudsters.

“Hajj fraud continues to destroy the dreams people have of making a once in a lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca which is why, together with our industry partners, we are raising awareness of this crime.”

Police guidance urges travellers to research travel companies, verify online it is an Abta member and has Atol protection, and ensure all details are in writing.

Rashid Mogradia, chief executive of the Council of British Hajjis, said: “We want to see all pilgrims complete their pilgrimage safely. Reporting all fraud and scams is hugely important in ensuring future pilgrims do have their trip of a lifetime destroyed by the criminals.”

The council believes the number of victims reporting incidents of Hajj fraud to the relevant authorities could be as low as just 3%.

Sajeela Naseer, head of Trading Standards at Birmingham City Council, said: “In prosecuting rogue travel agents for Hajj travel fraud over many years, we have learnt that pilgrims are often unaware of their legal rights or may try to resolve the issues themselves rather than approach the authorities.

“Fraud is a criminal act and we would like the Muslim community to feel confident in reporting their concerns to either trading standards or the police knowing we understand their problems and we will act on the information they give us.”

Mark Tanzer, Abta chief executive, added: “Every year, fraudsters target pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia, as very large sums of money are at stake.

“Abta members selling to the Muslim community have reported to us fraudsters rely on the fact some pilgrims may not be aware of the strict regulations governing package travel, or the benefits of booking through companies who belong to a recognised trade body, like Abta.

“This kind of fraud is particularly despicable as pilgrims may never again be in position to fulfil this religious duty.”