West suburban woman recovers nearly $4K after fake airline support scam

How it works

The victim was contacted by someone claiming to represent an airline's support team. The scammer gained trust by impersonating legitimate customer service and persuaded the victim to send money, likely by claiming there was a problem with a booking, account, or payment that needed immediate resolution.

Red flags to watch for

• Caller claims to be from airline customer support
• Urgent request to send money or take action immediately
• Asks you to verify or update payment information
• Pressure to act before you can contact the airline directly
• Request for wire transfer, gift card, or unusual payment method

What to do

Do not send money to anyone claiming to be airline support, even if they seem to have account details. Hang up and call the airline directly using the phone number on your booking confirmation or the airline's official website. Real airlines will never ask you to wire money or buy gift cards to resolve account issues.