New Airline Scam Every Traveler Should Know About

Travel is fun but stressful, especially when there are delays or problems with your airline tickets. Scammers have created fake airline customer service accounts to take advantage of this stress and confusion. This can make existing flight problems much worse if you don’t stay alert to the latest airline scams.

Key Insights

• Fake customer service phone numbers may show up in search engines like Google when customers search for contact information.
• Some scammers create a fake airline website to accompany fake links or contact information in search engines.
• The safest way to contact an airline is directly through an app or with contact information provided by trusted company resources. 

Airline Customers Scammed by Fake Customer Service

Currently one of the top scams circulating in the airline industry is spoofed or fake customer service numbers. This scam preys on existing consumer issues with travel stress, urgency, and a need for quick information.

The reddit poster explained that he was in a "loud & chaotic airport” trying to call United Airlines to rebook a flight, but the phone number went to a spoofed site that belonged to scammers rather than the actual airline company.

Source: reddit.com

The reddit user isn’t alone in almost falling for tricky airline scams in a frazzled state of travel. Another poster told their story among the online reviews on PissedConsumer. The customer called the phone number for Allegiant airlines from Facebook and spoke with a “gentleman” who “said the ticket will arrive 3 days before my flight.” 

When the customer called again, this time to the real Allegiant customer service.

I called and was told there was as NO record so I had to book another flight at an inflated price.

The customer reported the credit card fraud, but the card company “could do nothing.” 

Another customer caught on to the latest consumer trends in airline scams before they lost money. The customer also posted a review #5900054 explaining that when she called about a ticket refund, “someone named Pearl” sent a digital form that asked for personal information.

…a form asked for my name, card number, and membership for $60…She said something was wrong with my computer, and my screen opened to "computer experts." I deleted and closed my laptop.

How Does an Airline Customer Service Scam Work?

Recent airline scams follow a common pattern. Scammers create fake websites or link fake phone numbers through social media and search engines. When consumers search for an airline’s customer service, these fake contacts often appear at the top of results.

Unsuspecting customers call the number, believing it’s legitimate. The scammers, posing as airline agents, take advantage of stressed travelers, who may share personal and financial details.

If the scam succeeds, fraudsters use the information to make unauthorized charges. Victims often don’t realize they’ve been scammed until they notice incorrect charges or discover that their airline tickets or travel changes were never real.

How to Avoid Airline Scams?

For the scam to succeed, customers must believe the phone number is real and share financial details with the fake “customer service” agent. To avoid these airline scams, always verify contact information before trusting it. Here are key ways to protect yourself.

• Use the airline’s official app for contacting customer service or making changes. Using the app will ensure you’re working directly with the company, and you may be able to make changes without needing to speak to customer service, even if you’re already at the airport.
• Work through the company’s website rather than relying on search engines or searching social media accounts. Check the URL or web address for the travel company and then navigate to the Contact Us on website for the correct phone number to call.
• Never call the phone number that appears at the top of the search results. AI results at the top of search engines like Google and even the phone numbers off to the side of Google business results can be spoofs or fakes. Navigate to the official website or PissedConsumer to find the correct contact information instead. 

What to Do If You Were Scammed by Airline Customer Service?

If you believe you’ve been scammed by someone posing as airline customer service, it’s important to act quickly and take the following steps:

1. Report the Fraud
   File a report with your bank or credit card provider immediately to dispute any unauthorized charges. Also report the scam to the airline, FTC and IC3. 
2. Monitor Your Financial Accounts
   Keep a close eye on your bank and credit card statements. Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the major credit bureaus if you shared sensitive personal or financial information.
3. Warn Others
   Leave a detailed review on consumer platforms to help other travelers avoid similar scams. Sharing your experience can raise awareness and put pressure on platforms to remove misleading listings.
4. Be Wary of Future Contact
   Scammers may follow up pretending to offer refunds or additional help. Always verify contact information independently before responding.

Keeping Travel Plans Scam-Free

There is plenty to keep up with when traveling and avoiding scams shouldn’t be a part of the process. Unfortunately, there are always pitfalls to be wary of as you’re making travel plans, but being alert to the types of scams should make them easier to avoid. 

You can stay on top of the latest scams by reading real customer’s online reviews, and if you’ve encountered a potential scam, consider leaving a review of your own to report the fraud and warn others.