RALEIGH, N.C. - Before you book your next flight, be aware of third party airline booking scams. The Better Business Bureau of Eastern Carolinas (BBB) has information to alert you of how these scams work and best ways to avoid them.
How the Scam Works
Fraudulent third party booking sites advertise as legitimate businesses to help you get the flight tickets you need. Most commonly, they are contacted after a customer needs to cancel, reschedule or book a different flight. After searching for customer service, they will find a link to a website and number claiming to be affiliated with the airline or third party booking company they used; they call this number and provide financial and personal information. An agreement is then sent over to and signed by the customer. It isn’t until they directly call the airline or discover missing funds that many realize that they have been scammed.
One consumer lost over $2,000 and shared their experience on BBB Scam Tracker, "After our LOT flight was canceled out of Newark on July 2. I was either given or googled LOT customer service That evening I called and spoke someone about rebooking flights. I decided against booking that evening The following day I called to get a refund on the canceled flight thinking again I was calling a LOT affiliate The rep noted he would need to charge me the cancel fee for the flights but would refund both the original ticket price and the cancel fee. ( that should have been reg flag one ) They then sent a receipt email. Not looking closely I didn’t realize it was fake I was never refunded the charged amount and the contact number provide was fake. I am currently disputing the charge with my credit card company."
BBB’s Tips for Booking a Trip
•Verify the booking site. Before purchasing tickets, read all the fine print, cancellation policies and refund policies, and research the relationship the booking site has with the airlines. Read reviews online to understand customer experience. If you need to make a change, call the number where you purchased your original ticket, or go to the airline’s website and contact them directly.
•Research the airline. See if they use third-party booking sites and compare flights and prices.
•Check the website security. Look for the HTTPS:// before entering any personal or financial information. Use a credit card to retain the ability to dispute and cancel the transaction.
•Keep documentation. Save copies of confirmation messages, email communication, text messages, and anything related to the transaction. Verify the customer service number provided in the communication.
For more information
To learn more about planning a getaway, BBB.org/travel.
