Holidaymakers Warned of Surge in Fake Airline Accounts on Social Media, Says Which?

Holidaymakers are being alerted to a surge in scams employing counterfeit social media accounts to impersonate airlines, as reported by SupplyChainReport. Bogus accounts representing every major UK airline on X, formerly known as Twitter, have been identified, with scammers frequently utilizing them to dupe customers into divulging personal information. This warning comes from the consumer association Which?, which highlights the slow response of X in removing such fraudulent accounts.

According to Which?, scammers often exploit frustrated customers seeking assistance from airlines, monitoring social media interactions using bots to swiftly respond to queries or complaints. These fake accounts closely mimic genuine airline responses, with an aim to deceive customers into sharing sensitive data or redirecting them to phishing websites for credit card information.

A recent incident cited by Which? involved a researcher contacting the authentic Wizz Air X account, @wizzair, regarding a flight delay, only to receive responses from two fake accounts almost immediately. These counterfeit accounts used similar language, apologizing for the inconvenience and requesting further assistance via direct message.

Which? uncovered fake X accounts impersonating all major UK airlines, including British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, Tui, Virgin Atlantic, and Wizz Air. Despite reporting these fraudulent accounts to X, Which? found that many remained active, indicating limited effectiveness in the platform’s response.

In response, an X spokesperson emphasized their policy against misappropriating identities and deceptive practices, stating that accounts violating these policies may face permanent suspension. Airlines are advising customers to exercise caution on social media and only engage with verified official channels. For instance, easyJet recommends customers to interact solely with their verified account, @easyJet, identifiable by a gold verification badge.

A spokesperson for Wizz Air reiterated the importance of reporting fake accounts and reminded customers not to disclose personal details on social media platforms. Instead, passengers are encouraged to contact customer service through official channels, such as claims or call centers.