BBB warns of scammers setting up fake airline ticket booking websites

WSOCTV.com News Staff
·2 min read

Scammers are using increased flight cancellations to use a new con to take advantage of travelers, according to the Better Business Bureau.

The BBB has received several reports about fake airline ticket booking websites or customer service numbers created by scammers. They use these sites to charge people for rescheduling fake flights.

How the scam works:

According to the BBB, while a person is searching for a flight, they will find what seems to be a good deal being advertised by a major airline. They will then book the flight through the website or customer service number. Not long after booking, the company will call claiming that the buyer has to pay a price increase or extra charge to finalize their booking.

The BBB said this is something real companies would not do.

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If this happens, the BBB said the person has purchased tickets through a fake website.

In another similar con, the flight purchased is legitimate, but the cancellation notice is not. An individual would receive an email or text message saying their flight was canceled.

When they call the number listed, the fake company will help them get a new ticket. However, when the person contacts the actual airline, staff will confirm that everything was fine with the original flight.

“I thought that I bought airline tickets with United Airlines through a company that sells at discounted prices. They called me shortly after I bought my tickets and said that the flight had been canceled,” one scam victim told BBB Scam Tracker. “They wanted permission to put me on another flight with Southwest and said it would be $80 extra. … It turned out that United Airlines never canceled a flight. I tried to call this company and leave a message, and I tried to email them to no avail. It turns out that the airlines were unaware of this ticket purchase.”

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Tips from the BBB to avoid these types of scams:

  • Research companies you are unfamiliar with before purchasing anything. Click here to see feedback and reviews from past customers.

  • Recheck your flight details before calling customer support.

  • Confirm the website URL before paying or entering personal information. Click here to learn more about spotting fake URLs.

  • Be cautious of third-party websites. Look out for spelling errors, a contact number that does not work, or no physical address listed.

  • Use your credit card for online purchases.

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