Man trying to book flight tickets, gets cheated after dialing Google Maps-listed number 

Do you also rely heavily on numbers that are freely available on Google? If yes, you should double check before you share any of your sensitive details with the people hiding behind these numbers. Recently, a man took to Twitter to share how he was scammed when he tried rescheduling his flight tickets by dialing the number provided on Google Maps. Now, it is important to note that Google Maps is not just used for directions. It also suggests restaurants, shops, entertainment spots, and hotels nearby. It even provides contact details for these businesses. However, a Twitter user named Shmuli Evers recently discovered a disturbing trend. Scammers are taking advantage of these contact listings on Google Maps to deceive people. The story first appeared on Android Police.

Here's what happened

When Evers' Delta Airlines flight got canceled, he tried to reach the customer service number but couldn't get through. So, he decided to use the hotline number listed on Google Maps for the airline. Unfortunately, this number turned out to be a scammer's trap.

When Evers called the number, the scammer pretended to be an airline representative and asked for his name and new flight confirmation number. Then, the scammer directed him to send the confirmation number via SMS to another number and also requested payment for the new flight reservations. Luckily, Evers realized that something was wrong and hung up. But the scammer didn't give up and bombarded him with texts, demanding a payment five times the original ticket price to re-book.

Later, Evers discovered that the original hotline number on Google Maps was actually the correct one for Delta's local help desk at John F. Kennedy Airport. This meant the scammers had replaced the legitimate number with their own.

The problem lies in how information about businesses, including hotline numbers, is crowdsourced on Google Maps. This makes it easier for fake businesses and scammers to appear on the platform. There have been reports of scammers even calling small businesses, pretending to be from Google, and demanding payment for supposed "unpaid bills." They threaten to remove the businesses' Google Maps listings if they don't pay up.

Not only did Evers find the Delta Airlines hotline number replaced, but he also discovered that the hotline number listed for American Airlines on Google Maps was incorrect too. Thankfully, both numbers have now been fixed.

It's essential to be cautious when using contact information found on Google Maps or any other platform. Scammers are becoming more cunning, and it's vital to verify phone numbers directly from official websites or reliable sources. Google is aware of these scams and is working to improve the verification process for business listings to prevent such fraudulent activities in the future. As users, we must remain vigilant to protect ourselves from falling into these traps.