The short story is looking at Google or an ad for a company's contact info is dangerous. What traveler cannot related to this writer's trouble?
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/invest/the-online-scam-that-hits-travellers-at-their-most-distracted
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
5523 posts
When an actual human being answered an airline customer service
hotline after a single ring, I probably should have known I was being
scammed.
That's pretty sad when we have to be suspicious because the customer service is too good.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
16381 posts
"In my case, the scammer exploited weaknesses in Google’s automated ad-screening system, so that fraudulent sponsored results rose to the top."
Well, in addition to what the author of the article wrote, the scammer also exploited the weaknesses of someone in a hurry who is not being careful with information from their searches.
Maybe you missed this thread last spring with 171 posts where a forum poster did exactly the same thing as the author did...googled the airline number and got tangled with a scammer.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/beyond-europe/what-american-airlines-pulled-on-me
And her follow on thread....
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32578 posts
I haven't heard of this scam, thanks for posting.
I don't use social media, and normally use the airline apps or the airline websites for contact numbers. Thankfully I haven't had many occasions to call them while I've been travelling.