Airline ticket scam: You should know this before you book your next flight tickets

The festive season is in full swing, and the travel rush is on. People are eagerly booking tickets for buses, trains, and flights to go on vacation or reunite with their loved ones. In the festive spirit, airlines are offering generous discounts on tickets as part of special campaigns, festivals, and holiday deals. However, scammers are also taking advantage of these offers to deceive unsuspecting travellers.

Recently, the International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL, warned people about a viral airline ticket scam. Let's take a closer look at how the scam works and how one can stay safe.

What is Airline ticket scam

In an airline or flight ticket scam, criminals use stolen, compromised, or hacked credit card details to buy airline tickets. They then offer these tickets for sale at bargain prices through professional-looking websites or social networking accounts that appear to be for legitimate travel agencies or agents.

When someone tries to book tickets using these websites, the scammers then ask for immediate payment, typically by cash, bank transfer, or virtual currencies. After receiving your payment, they send you the flight booking confirmation, but with their original purchase details deleted.

While buying a flight ticket with a stolen credit card may not seem like much harm, it is a scam that can have serious consequences. Buyers of these tickets risk being stranded at the airport if the owner of the stolen credit card reports the fraudulent purchase before the scheduled flight. Even if the owner does not report the purchase until after the buyer has boarded the plane, the credit card company may still reverse the charge, leaving the buyer with no way to return home.

In addition to the risk of being stranded, buyers of stolen airline tickets also support criminal activity. The money they pay for the tickets goes directly into the hands of criminals who use it to fund other serious crimes.

So how to detect fraud discounts

According to Interpol, this scam is also particularly dangerous because it is difficult to detect. Scammers often go to great lengths to create fake websites and social media accounts that look legitimate, and they may even use stolen travel agent identities. To detect whether a flight ticket sale is fraud, be wary of the following:

• Unusually low ticket prices can be a sign of a scam: If the ticket costs much less than other options, it might be a trick to draw you in and make money through scam schemes.
• Watch out for last-minute departure dates: Scammers often sell tickets they got fraudulently just a day or two before the flight. They do this hoping to take advantage of the time between the purchase and when the real cardholder realises and cancels the transaction.
• Be cautious if you're asked to pay in cash or through a bank transfer: These payment methods don't offer much protection in case of fraud. Once your money is transferred, it's hard to get it back.
• Check the contact information provided by the travel agency: Legitimate ones should have a complete address and a landline phone number. If this information is missing, do some research to confirm the agency's legitimacy and certificate before making any purchases.

How to be safe

To ensure safer booking, follow these safety tips:

• Choose direct booking by purchasing airline tickets either directly from the airline or through a reputable travel agency certified by your country's relevant authorities.
• For online purchases, ensure secure transactions by using websites with secure payment systems, identified by "https" at the beginning of the web address.
• Before making a purchase, thoroughly research the travel agency. Check the legitimacy of their website, read online reviews (both positive and negative), and confirm they have reliable contact options for addressing issues.
• Take the time to review the terms and conditions before completing any transaction, paying particular attention to the refund policy and associated processes.