A couple from California were faced with a difficult situation while vacationing in Maui. Megan and Kevin Morgan, along with their 8-month-old baby, went there to celebrate their 5th wedding anniversary. But forest fires started spreading across the island and they decided to leave early. They canceled their dinner plans and left in a hurry before the fire consumed the restaurant they had reserved.
Wanting to fly home to Sacramento, they checked their flight options with Southwest Airlines, CBS reported. They searched online for the airline's contact number and called the number they found. However, this turned out to be a bad move as the number was actually that of a scammer.
The scammer tricked them into giving out the confirmation number and ticket details. Although they don't provide credit card information, the details they do provide are enough for scammers to cause trouble. The scammer canceled his return flights and used the flight credit to book someone else's trip to the East Coast. Megan explained that the person on the phone pretended to be a Southwest Airlines person and even demanded money for her to change flights. She realized something was wrong and hung up without giving her credit card details. But it's too late.
The result of this scam was a huge financial loss to the family, totaling $3,400 (approximately Rs 282,620). They find themselves stranded in Maui and must deal with the aftermath of the wildfire and the effects of fraud. Megan expressed surprise and said she had never heard of this type of scam before.
Here's How You Can Stay Safe From These Scams
When you come across phone numbers online, especially through search engines like Google, it is essential to exercise caution and verify their authenticity before dialing. Scammers can manipulate search results to display fake contact information that leads to fraudulent activities. To stay safe, follow these steps:
—Always verify the origin of the phone number. Find the number on the official website of the organization or company you are trying to contact.
— Compare numbers you find online with official contact details from trusted sources, such as official websites, official social media accounts, or verified contacts. —Avoid calling numbers you find through online searches directly without confirming their legitimacy.—Get contact information from reliable sources, such as official websites, and service emails. customer or printed material.—If you suspect a phone number is fake or is involved in fraudulent activity, report the number to the relevant authority or platform where you found the number. that phone.â€è
