Airline Phone Number Scams

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New Scam: Beware Fake Airline Phone Numbers

When you’re running late for a flight or need to reschedule, many people reach for their phone to call their airline. How do you know what number to call? Most of us will go to Google and search, as we do for everything else. But what if the number Google gives us is a scam?

A recent series of scams targeted these travelers by using flaws in Google’s security to change the phone numbers that appear when you search for an airline. By substituting their fake number, scammers pose as the airline and pretend to provide services like rebooking while asking the traveler for their credit card information. Before the traveler has hung up, their credit card has been hit with bogus charges. 

This is scary, because it’s easy to see how people fall for the scam. It’s also getting worse, as platforms like X/Twitter allow scammers to pose as brands without any real way to tell who’s real. If you Tweet a travel problem and get a DM from a verified account, how would you know if it’s real or not? 

Airline reservations are also expensive, which is why scammers like to focus on them. You are less likely to flag a $500 charge as fraud if you think it’s for an airline ticket than if it’s for lunch. The higher the price, the more money scammers can make. 

So, how can you and your family protect yourselves?

1. Take notes. Make a note of the airline contact information when you book your ticket. Don’t just rely on email or text updates that might be faked, check against the contact information that you know is real. 

2. Verify your information. When you call an airline, they will ask for a lot of information (name, confirmation number, etc) to verify you are whoever you claim to be. You can do the same, by asking the airline representative for some information about your booking that no one else can know, such as when it was made. 

3. Use travel apps. Most major airlines have mobile apps you can use to manage your tickets and travel details. These can be safer than email and text. 

As with all scams, the best way to protect yourself is to remain diligent. Don’t trust that someone who answers the phone is who they say they are, and don’t share more information than you think should be necessary. 

Quick Tip of the Week: Set Up a Family Secret Code. 

As AI tools continue to improve at a rapid pace, it is getting easier and easier for scammers to impersonate you in emails and even on the phone. If your mom gets a call from someone that sounds like you asking for money, what will she do? To protect your family from these scams, set up a secret code with everyone ahead of time. Anytime your family gets a call they should feel comfortable asking you for the code to verify your identity. Great secret codes are:

• Shared memories that only you would know. 

• Favorite foods and places you have in common. 

• Inside jokes. 

Have you come across a scam recently? Received some weird messages that you think might be a scam? Forward them to [email protected] and we’re happy to help! We’ll take a look and let you know what we think, and if it is a scam we’ll profile it in future issues of The Safety Net to protect others.