Canadian airline WestJet has uncovered a ticketing scam and is warning travelers to steer clear of ‘too good to be true’ air fares.
During routine checks, the carrier uncovered a scheme advertising return flights to the US for up to 50% less than fares available online.
It has been targeted at conference delegates heading to Las Vegas with up to 100 people already duped.
Customers accepted the cheap flight offer and paid the scammers, and bookings were then made on their behalf using stolen credit cards.
The affected customers have been notified their bookings are invalid.
“It’s important to do your homework before purchasing your flights. The lowest WestJet fares are those advertised on westjet.com, and travelers should avoid suspicious-looking deals advertised elsewhere,” said Alexis Gunderson, of WestJet’s fraud investigation division.
“Ensure you are getting exactly what you paid for by booking your flights and vacation packages directly with an airline or tour operator.”
The airline has passed on information regarding the ‘fraud scheme’ to law enforcement officials who are continuing investigations.
