HOLIDAYMAKERS are urged to be on the lookout for fraudsters after a US traveller was charged $17k in a highly unusual scam.
The customer did everything right after his United Airlines flight was cancelled – but the money still disappeared from his account.
Dan Smoker’s trip to Europe was thrown into confusion after the Denver traveler was told his flight had been cancelled.
He called United Airlines customer services and spent more than three hours speaking to an agent called “David”.
This “agent” then rebooked his flight on another service.
Susceptible to scams
It is widely acknowledged that travelers who have their flights cancelled at the last minute – often while they are at the airport and therefore in an agitated state – are highly susceptible to scammers.
But in Dan’s case, an email quickly arrived informing him that his flight had been rebooked and he would be refunded for the original amount.
However, several months passed and there was no sign of a refund.
It was only when he checked his credit card details that he discovered $17k had been withdrawn from his account.
With the help of consumer investigator Steve Staeger, the pair looked into the case and discovered it was a potential scam.
In a video for WGRZ, Steve explained the red flags that immediately popped up.
What surprised the investigator first of all was that the three-hour call Smoker made to United Airlines was logged as only 12 minutes by the airline.
“I figured Dan had been taken advantage of, thought maybe he’d Googled a number for United,” said Staeger.
“But he didn’t.”
Call logs
By using technology and call logs, Staeger was able to confirm that Dan called the correct telephone number for United Airline customer services – and it did indeed last three hours.
In a statement, United Airlines said they were investigating the matter.
“We’ve been in direct contact with the customer to understand what happened in this case,” said United spokeswoman.
“We are reviewing this matter thoroughly.
“We’re committed to finding a fair resolution for him.”
The case of Dan Smoker comes after a watchdog survey discovered airline customers are being targeted by fake social media accounts on X.
The consumer champion Which? found bogus accounts for every major airline in the UK, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Wizz Air among others.
Fake accounts on X are often used to trick customers into giving away their personal data to a scammer posing as an airline (or other legitimate business).
The scammers will often prey on vulnerable and frustrated customers who’ve contacted an airline about a problem.
How to avoid scams
ETIAS, or the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, is a new travel requirement for visa-exempt travelers to 30 European countries.
Here is their advice for avoiding scams:
- Ignore unsolicited emails or ads promoting ETIAS.
- Avoid unofficial travel websites that charge high fees or request unusual personal details.
- Bookmark and use the official EU site once ETIAS becomes active.
- Report suspicious activity to travel authorities or consumer protection agencies.
The website adds: “As new travel authorisation systems like the UK’s ETA and the EU’s upcoming ETIAS reshape border entry rules, clarity and caution are more important than ever.
“While only European visitors to the UK currently need to act, travelers to Europe should remain alert — not to red tape, but to rising scams exploiting the confusion.
“The ETIAS system won’t go live until late 2026, yet fraudulent websites already prey on unaware travellers.
“As change looms, one constant remains: informed travel is safer travel. Bookmark official sources, ignore unofficial shortcuts, and keep your passport — and your data protected.”
