A FRAUDSTER who sold fake holidays to families by posing as a bogus travel broker on Facebook has been convicted.

Brooke Reay tricked her victims by offering cheap holidays and spa days, using stolen credit cards and fake profiles to disguise her deception.

By the time the credit cards had declined, Reay’s victims had already transferred their hard-earned money directly into her account - and were subsequently left out of pocket.

The 25-year-old trickster pocketed more than £2,000 over a four-week period after falsely booking three victims holidays to Mexico, Tenerife and Benidorm, as well as a spa day at a Durham hotel.

Detectives launched an investigation into the fraudulent activity and Reay, of Dunstanburgh Road, Byker, and formerly of Sunderland and South Shields, has now been convicted of three fraud offences.

She will be sentenced later this month.

Police said: "We think this case offers a really important reminder to us all.

"She knowingly and willingly manipulated her victims, who were left betrayed and embarrassed after being caught out by her scam.

"Especially now at a time when many families are looking forward to booking holidays following a hard year for everyone, we would urge people to be aware of this kind of criminality and remain vigilant.

"Fraudsters quite often target the most vulnerable in our communities, and their scams can be sophisticated and appear genuine. It is therefore crucial that individuals like Reay are convicted of their crimes and brought to justice.

"Only book a holiday directly with an airline or hotel, or through a reputable agent – and check online whether they are a member of the Association of British Travel Agents.

"If you do decide to deal directly with a property owner or letting agent, do not book on websites that don’t have a padlock icon (https) in the address bar, and be cautious if you are asked to pay using bank transfer or cash.

"For more advice on how to protect yourself against fraud and how to spot the signs, please visit the Action Fraud website."