This is a cautionary tale for anyone scrambling to fix a flight cancellation: one traveler lost over $17,000 while speaking to what he believed was United’s customer service. And he even dialed the correct number! This is a mysterious story, though I have a hunch it was an inside job.
First, Smoker reached a female agent concerning a flight cancellation. She put him on hold and then a male “agent” returned to the call.
The scam involved a person who identified himself as “David,” rebooking the flight and charging Smoker’s card under the promise of a refund. The confirmation email wasn’t from United, and the charge showed up as “AIRLINEFARE” on his statement. He later received this email:
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.