Janice R. Andrews
In the constantly changing world of cybercrime, con artists are always looking for new ways to take advantage of those who are easily manipulated. The newest strategy is to pose as customer support representatives for airlines and prey on gullible passengers who are experiencing delays and cancellations. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a warning in response to this concerning trend, as hackers are using social media sites as a means of preying on anxious travelers.
The Approach Taken by Airline Con artists
Scammers are now known to prowl on social media, especially in search of posts from travelers who are having problems with their flights, as the FTC has brought to light. These fraudsters perceive an opportunity whether the interruption is brought on by a rare occurrence like the recent Crowdstrike outage, which forced thousands of planes to be grounded globally, or more frequent disruptions like weather delays. Travelers in need of help frequently resort to social media, which makes them easy prey for con artists.
After identifying a possible victim, these crooks assume the identity of authentic airline customer service representatives. Sensitive information is requested, including phone numbers, bank account data, and booking confirmation numbers. Sometimes they send visitors to phony websites built to steal personal data, which can be exploited for identity theft or other illegal activities.
The Cybercrime Threat Is Increasing
The increasing threat posed by cybercrime was highlighted by Eric O’Neill, a national security expert with the cybersecurity company NeXasure. According to O’Neill, “cybercrime is the fastest-growing business on Earth,” USA TODAY. According to his prediction, the cost of cybercrime on the dark web is expected to top $20 trillion by 2026, making it the third-largest economy in the world, larger than the combined GDP of Germany and Japan.
Cybercriminals are becoming skilled at taking advantage of emergencies, fooling their victims with false information and posing as someone else to win their trust. An excellent illustration of this was the Crowdstrike outages, during which con artists posed as airline support agents or suppliers and offered fictitious help to get out of the situation. Former FBI undercover agent O’Neill observed that these crooks are adept at using their victims’ anxieties and need for speedy fixes to get them to provide sensitive information.
Scammers Take Advantage of Social Media Weaknesses
Co-host of Flightradar24’s AvTalk Podcast Jason Rabinowitz pointed out that fraudsters have historically preyed on travelers using social media to ask for assistance. When many airline websites and applications were down due to the Crowdstrike malfunction, this strategy became even more common as travelers were forced to seek assistance via Twitter (now X) and other platforms. This gave scammers the chance to pretend to be airline agents in an effort to fool travelers into giving them personal information.
Rabinowitz stressed the significance of confirming the legitimacy of social media profiles that purport to provide assistance. “One of the best tips to avoid being scammed is to always verify the authenticity of the account responding to you,” he stated. “Do a quick Google search to make sure it’s really the airline’s support account, and watch out for tricks like substituting a 1 for a l.”
The Frequency of Scams Purposing to Look Like Tech Support
Scams involving tech support are another frequent tactic used by hackers. An email or text alert alerting the receiver that their information has been hacked or discovered on the dark web is frequently the first step in these frauds. The con artist poses as a tech support worker and helps the victim install a “helper application” on their device when they ask for help. With control over the device, the attacker can use this software to steal data, encrypt it with ransomware, or install other malicious programs.
Strategies to Guard Against Airline Scammers
The FTC and cybersecurity professionals recommend the following precautions to prevent against these fraudulent schemes:
- Get in touch with the airline Straightforwardly: Always use the official methods to contact the airline’s customer support, which include the app, website, or official phone numbers. Steer clear of delicate communications on social media.
- In-person Support: Have a direct conversation with a customer support agent if you’re at the airport.
- Check Social Media Profiles: If you must utilize social media, make sure the account is valid by visiting the airline’s website, looking for badges or verification marks, and verifying its legitimacy.
- Preserve Personal Data: Avoid disclosing financial or personal data on social media. For advice on what to do next, submit your suspected compromised information to IdentityTheft.gov.
- Know Your Rights: Visit FlightRights.gov to learn about your rights as a passenger and to register a complaint if you believe an airline is not treating you properly.
O’Neill suggests approaching unwanted contacts with a “trust last, verify first” mentality. He emphasizes how crucial it is to pause and look into any questionable offer or request since, in the realm of cybercrime, the majority of seemingly genuine offers and requests are really scams.
Travelers need to be on the lookout for new weaknesses as fraudsters keep evolving and adapting. The prevalence of impersonating airline customer care representatives is a clear indication of the need of cybersecurity knowledge. Travelers may safeguard themselves against becoming victims of these increasingly complex frauds by adhering to the preceding advice and remaining informed.
