With the rise of AI as well folks, it’s time t0o watch out even more.
Holidaymakers are being cautioned about an increase in scams where fake social media accounts are used to impersonate airlines. According to the consumer association Which?, bogus accounts exist for every major UK airline on X, formerly known as Twitter, and are regularly employed to deceive customers into divulging their personal data.
Scammers pretending to be major airlines are using social media to try to commit identify fraud.
Which? says it’s seen evidence of fake accounts responding to customer questions on X.
They use similar language and often reply quicker than the carriers – or interrupt ongoing… pic.twitter.com/9o19N9CzA8
— Go Radio (@thisisgoradio) June 10, 2024
Which? has criticized X for being too slow to take down these fraudulent accounts. The social media platform has a “misleading and deceptive identities policy” under which accounts that impersonate organizations may be permanently suspended. While X previously informed Which? that it had removed all fake accounts identified by the consumer group, the issue persists.
The scam typically occurs when a frustrated customer tries to contact an airline to resolve a problem. Scammers use automated software, known as bots, to monitor social media for such interactions. They then respond to the query or complaint, hoping the customer will not realize they are being contacted by a fake account.
Which? provided an example involving a researcher who contacted the genuine Wizz Air X account, @wizzair, to inquire about a flight delay. The researcher received immediate responses from two fake accounts. Both responses used nearly identical language, apologizing for the inconvenience, stating that the matter had been escalated to the relevant department, and requesting a reachable WhatsApp number for assistance via direct message.
Scammers often ask customers to provide sensitive personal data or direct them to phishing websites where their credit card details can be stolen. Some fraudsters also claim customers are entitled to compensation or request a small fee to resolve the issue.
Warning as social media scammers impersonate ‘major’ UK airlines https://t.co/HyNgUsjXfu
— ITV News (@itvnews) June 10, 2024
Which? reported that it had found bogus X accounts impersonating every major airline operating in the UK, including British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, Tui, Virgin Atlantic, and Wizz Air. Reporting fake accounts to X appears to have limited effect, with most of the bogus posts and accounts flagged by Which? still live at the time of writing.
An X spokesperson reiterated the platform’s policy: “On X, you may not misappropriate the identity of individuals, groups, or organizations or use a fake identity to deceive others. Accounts that pose as another person, group, or organization in a confusing or deceptive manner may be permanently suspended under X’s misleading and deceptive identities policy.”
Airlines are urging customers to be cautious of fake accounts and to avoid sharing personal data on social media. An easyJet spokesperson advised, “We recommend customers only follow and engage with our sole official channel @easyJet, identifiable by the gold verification badge for official businesses, for the latest updates or to seek support. Be vigilant and do not engage with or click on any links from other accounts.”
Similarly, a Wizz Air spokesperson stated, “We continue to report fake social media accounts and remind customers never to share their personal details on these channels. Passengers should contact customer service via our claims or call centers.”
Holidaymakers are being warned about a rise in scams where fake social media accounts are used to impersonate airlines.https://t.co/zStnVaNBXE
— Nationwide90FM (@NationwideRadio) June 10, 2024
Major Points:
- Holidaymakers are being warned about scams involving fake social media accounts impersonating major UK airlines, particularly on X (formerly Twitter).
- Scammers use bots to identify and respond to frustrated customers seeking help, tricking them into providing personal data.
- Which? found bogus accounts for airlines like British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, Tui, Virgin Atlantic, and Wizz Air.
- Reporting fake accounts to X has had limited success, with many fraudulent accounts still active.
- Airlines urge customers to engage only with verified official channels and avoid sharing personal information on social media.
Fallon Jacobson – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
