What is Flight Ticket Booking Scam?
28 June, 2024
Synopsis
Vigilance is key to spotting ticket booking scams online.
Verify legitimacy via official emails and secure website connections.
Book through trusted sources to avoid flight booking scams.
In an era where online transactions are the norm, ticket booking scams have become increasingly prevalent. These scams particularly target individuals looking to purchase travel tickets, with flight bookings being a common area of fraud. As you gear up for your travel plans, understanding how to identify and avoid a flight booking scam is crucial to protect both your money and personal information.
How Do I Know if My Flight Booking is a Scam?
Here’s what you need to keep in mind when booking flight tickets online:
Too-Good-To-Be-True Deals: Scammers often lure victims with offers that seem too good to be true, such as heavily discounted rates for flights that are much lower than market price. These too-good-to-be-true deals may be promoted on unofficial websites or through unsolicited emails and social media posts, which are not associated with legitimate travel agencies or airlines.
Last-Minute Departures: Fraudsters may sell fraudulent tickets a few days before the flight. This way, you will have less time on your hands to detect the fraudulent ticket, report it and cancel it.
Untraceable Payment Methods: Additionally, be wary of any seller who insists on receiving payments through untraceable methods like cash, as these are red flags indicating a potential online ticket booking scam. Always cross-reference prices and details on known sites or directly with airlines.
Poor Website Quality: Fake websites may have noticeable spelling and grammatical errors, poor-quality images or lack essential contact information.
Pressure Tactics: Scammers will often use urgent language to pressure you into making a quick decision without thorough consideration.
Missing Information on Tickets: To combat ticket booking scams, scrutinise every detail provided on the ticket. Genuine tickets contain specific information such as the passenger's name, booking reference number, itinerary, bar code and security features that align with the airline’s standard format. You can confirm the validity of your ticket by calling the airline's customer service with your booking reference.
How to Prevent Ticket Booking Scams
To safely book your tickets online, follow these steps:
Book Via Reputable Sources: To ensure your booking is flight booking scam-free, it is advisable to always book through recognised and reputable travel agents or directly on airline websites. Before making a booking, verify the airline’s contact details and official website through a simple internet search to steer clear of online ticket booking scam traps.
Confirm Booking With the Airline: After finalising your booking, make sure you receive an official confirmation email directly from the airline or travel agent, which should comprehensively include your ticket number, detailed flight information and a confirmation of your payment.
Check Website Authenticity: Always check the authenticity of the website—look for "https" in the URL, which signifies a secure connection, and verify if they use well-known, secure payment gateways.
Check Cancellation Policies: Whether you’re booking the ticket online or via a travel agent, make sure you familiarise yourself with the refund and cancellation policies.
Avoid Sharing Booking Details Online: Additionally, avoid sharing your ticket details or posting them online, as scammers can use this information to create counterfeit versions.
Keep Device Software Updated: Keep your software updated to fend off malware designed to steal personal information during the booking process.
Monitor Bank Statements: Finally, regularly check your bank statements for any unauthorised transactions.
Staying informed and cautious is your best defence against flight ticket scams. By booking through reliable sources and verifying all details, you can ensure your travel plans are secure and scam-free.
Join Vigil Army, where Vigil Aunty will decode various frauds and give people a heads-up on the dos and don’ts of combating frauds online. To join the Vigil Army, send ‘Hi’ to her via WhatsApp number: 7290030000.
Disclaimer: *Terms and conditions apply. The information provided in this article is generic in nature and for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for specific advice in your own circumstances.
