The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning last-minute travelers of scams targeting those who are trying to book a flight in a hurry.
According to the Better Business Bureau, scammers are impersonating online ticket brokers and selling tickets to the public. The catch is that these scammers are cancelling these seats after they’re sold, perhaps to sell them again. Rushed would-be travelers run into this scam when they are searching for last minute flights, as most of these scams stem from sites that pop up after a Google search. These sites often look quite professional and legitimate, so it’s typical to feel like you’re going through a typical flight ticket booking process; at least until the booking is complete. The BBB reports that this is when scammers will often call the would-be traveler to “confirm their identity,” at which point the scam is already complete. These scammers are quite skilled, however, as they’ll send a legitimate confirmation code that is recognized by the airline, which leaves the would-be traveler very confused when they get to check-in to discover their flight was cancelled and no refunds are available. Furthermore, the “company” the ticket was purchased from has usually vanished into thin air before anyone can do anything about them, like report them to the BBB.
Unlike most scams the BBB warns the public about, this one is rather new and most people wouldn’t have heard about it by now. The scam is quite elaborate and original, but there are clear red flags to watch out for. Do your research on any site that you’re thinking about buying tickets from. Make sure they are a reputable ticket merchant, and look for online reviews and publications that rate payment gateways. Lastly, use your credit card when purchasing a flight ticket. Credit card transactions can always be contested, whereas if you use a debit card, the money is lost forever once it’s transferred from your bank account.
