Scammers posing as airline customer service agents, FTC warns

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FILE-Passengers walk between terminals at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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A scam targeting air travelers dealing with flight problems at airports is circulating and the Federal Trade Commission is warning consumers.

Scammers are scouring social media posts of upset travelers experiencing flight delays or cancellations. Once they find a traveler with this issue, the schemer reaches out to the passenger using fake social media accounts, while pretending to be an airline rep, per the FTC advisory alert.

The FTC notes that scammers will ask travelers for their information, including their booking confirmation number, phone number, or bank account. These swindlers also direct travelers to a fake website containing their personal information and use it to steal the passenger’s identity while amassing charges on their accounts.

News of these frauds comes as airlines experienced a wave of flight cancellations and delays over the past few weeks after a global IT outage by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on July 19.

Delta flight issues following CrowdStrike outage

Delta was among the airlines that struggled with resuming its normal flight services following the IT outage in July, resulting in the Atlanta-based airline canceling over 6,000 flights, because key systems were impacted by the incident. However, in the six days after the July 19 outage, Delta was able to resume operations, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.

Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on July 23, the agency is probing Delta to make sure the company is "following the law and taking care of its passengers during continued widespread disruptions."

Buttigieg told FOX 5 Atlanta that the DOT received over 3,000 complaints from Delta passengers. However, in the six days after the July 19 outage, Delta was able to resume operations.

CrowdStrike responds to Delta’s claim of flight disruptions

CrowdStrike says Delta should stop blaming it for days of flight disruptions, denying that it was not responsible for the Atlanta-based airline's losses.

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian told the Associated Press on July 31 that the airline is facing $500 million in costs related to the tech outage.

Delta hired an attorney to pursue potential damages from CrowdStrike and Microsoft, FOX Business reported.

The cybersecurity firm called the threat of a lawsuit "misleading" and said the company would respond to any litigation, claiming limited liability in the matter because they offered on-site help to Delta but was rejected.

How can I protect myself from airline rep scammers?

Consumers dealing with travel issues can follow these steps to avoid being swindled by an airline impersonator:

Log in to your airline account and contact customer service through the airline’s official app, website, chat, or phone number.
If you are at the airport, speak to a customer service representative in person.
If you reach out through social media, find the airline’s official social media page on their website. Look for a verification symbol or badge. And never give out personal information on social media.

If your personal information is stolen, passengers can visit IdentityTheft.gov to report it and receive recovery steps. And report impersonators to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Moreover, travelers can also go to FlightRights.gov to learn about the airline passenger protections available, and to file a complaint with DOT if an airline is not treating you fairly.

FOX 5 Atlanta and the Associated Press contributed to this story. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.