RR account hacked and SW has been unresponsive
Jan 12, 2019, 7:47 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
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Hi - that's exactly right - WN has the ability to track down the people that flew, find out how they got my points or were booked travel using my points. I just have their names, they actually know their IDs and far more. I am asking for their help to persecute these thiefs
They have a name. It could be a fake name. It could be a common name. It could be a made up name.
WN does NOT have their ID. Nowhere in the process does the name on the ticket have to match the ID used to get through security. WN never checks an ID except when checking bags.
Jan 12, 2019, 9:42 am
#47
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
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Which is a stupid restriction, easily evaded. Book the trip with voucher plus credit card, cancel and refund the card, then book it again with the remaining ticketless funds plus voucher.
Jan 12, 2019, 9:56 am
#48
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Bear in mind that if OP's account was hacked by third parties whom he does not know, they are likely part of an organized effort selling tickets to unwitting dupes who only know that they are buying dirt cheap tickets.
The hackers are pros, they know the rules and the vulnerabilities and they are not looking to build a lot of loyalty. So, if it falls apart for one customer and that customer has his ticket cancelled and is left stuck somewhere, that is just a cost of doing business.
Or, it is your coworker who bought a ticket for Aunt Minnie.
The hackers are pros, they know the rules and the vulnerabilities and they are not looking to build a lot of loyalty. So, if it falls apart for one customer and that customer has his ticket cancelled and is left stuck somewhere, that is just a cost of doing business.
Or, it is your coworker who bought a ticket for Aunt Minnie.
Jan 12, 2019, 11:07 am
#49
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Gold, WN A+ & CP, HH Diamond, Hyatt Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 3,240
Hi - that's exactly right - WN has the ability to track down the people that flew, find out how they got my points or were booked travel using my points. I just have their names, they actually know their IDs and far more. I am asking for their help to persecute these thiefs
Jan 12, 2019, 11:20 am
#50
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA, USA
Programs: AA (Life Plat), Marriott (Life Titanium) and every other US program
Posts: 6,411
Jan 12, 2019, 11:30 am
#51
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 2
I saw this was a “hot thread” in the flyer talk email newsletter I get, so I clicked on it because I too had someone steal point on December 31.
I have have spoken to SW and although they haven’t been 100% forthcoming with an explanation, they have told me plenty.
First, a hacker got into the SW system and infiltrated several peoples accounts. It was not done by hacking an individuals emails or password. So... everyone should change their passwords at SW because there is probably a list of user id’s and passwords being sold on the dark web as we speak.
Second, southwest have told me that due to the scope and size of the breach and theft, the corporate fraud department is investigating and I should rest assured that after their complete process/investigation, I will be reallocated my stolen points.
Third, the individual(s) who committed the fraud somehow acted as a third party travel agent or booking agent. This info I deduced based on several things the agent at corporate fraud mentioned during my conversation with her. It may not be actually the case.
unlike the the original poster, I have no complaints regarding SW customer service regarding the handling of the fraud up to this point. If I have one complaint it is that they won’t tell me WHEN they will return my points, only that the investigation could be 10 business days.
Bottom line, there is NO INTENET SECURITY. Every account we all have can and does get hacked and there are a million ways they can do it. Sometimes it’s through our own online habits, sometimes they hack the most secure businesses we do business with. If they can hack the credit reporting agencies, Visa, Master Card and the federal government, we should understand that theft through the intenet is a fact of our daily lives now. It sucks.
i hope I and others get our points back.
I have have spoken to SW and although they haven’t been 100% forthcoming with an explanation, they have told me plenty.
First, a hacker got into the SW system and infiltrated several peoples accounts. It was not done by hacking an individuals emails or password. So... everyone should change their passwords at SW because there is probably a list of user id’s and passwords being sold on the dark web as we speak.
Second, southwest have told me that due to the scope and size of the breach and theft, the corporate fraud department is investigating and I should rest assured that after their complete process/investigation, I will be reallocated my stolen points.
Third, the individual(s) who committed the fraud somehow acted as a third party travel agent or booking agent. This info I deduced based on several things the agent at corporate fraud mentioned during my conversation with her. It may not be actually the case.
unlike the the original poster, I have no complaints regarding SW customer service regarding the handling of the fraud up to this point. If I have one complaint it is that they won’t tell me WHEN they will return my points, only that the investigation could be 10 business days.
Bottom line, there is NO INTENET SECURITY. Every account we all have can and does get hacked and there are a million ways they can do it. Sometimes it’s through our own online habits, sometimes they hack the most secure businesses we do business with. If they can hack the credit reporting agencies, Visa, Master Card and the federal government, we should understand that theft through the intenet is a fact of our daily lives now. It sucks.
i hope I and others get our points back.
Jan 12, 2019, 11:33 am
#52
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,598
She had her passport buried in her carry on that showed he maiden name or I'm not sure if we would have made our flight
So you are saying we have no idea who is boarding planes and if I ever can't make a flight I can just sell my ticket to someone else as the name on the ticket doesn't matter..................
Last edited by flyer4512; Jan 12, 2019 at 12:01 pm
Jan 12, 2019, 11:54 am
#53
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,598
Hi - that's exactly right - WN has the ability to track down the people that flew, find out how they got my points or were booked travel using my points. I just have their names, they actually know their IDs and far more. I am asking for their help to persecute these thiefs
.Dear XXXXXXXXXDone deal! Your Rapid Rewards® account has been successfully updated. Please verify the changes through your account at Southwest.com®.
-Your friends at Rapid Rewards
Jan 12, 2019, 11:55 am
#54
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,502
First, a hacker got into the SW system and infiltrated several peoples accounts. It was not done by hacking an individuals emails or password. So... everyone should change their passwords at SW because there is probably a list of user id’s and passwords being sold on the dark web as we speak.
Second, southwest have told me that due to the scope and size of the breach and theft, the corporate fraud department is investigating and I should rest assured that after their complete process/investigation, I will be reallocated my stolen points.
Second, southwest have told me that due to the scope and size of the breach and theft, the corporate fraud department is investigating and I should rest assured that after their complete process/investigation, I will be reallocated my stolen points.
The airline acknowledges the scope and size and is keeping it all quiet?
God forbid some blog or news outlet gets wind.
Jan 12, 2019, 1:34 pm
#55
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 2
my thought was, either the breach was not all that large, the story I’ve been given was hogwash, or its all about corporate damage control and they weighed the damage of the data breach vs the public relations damage announcing a broad breach.
Ultimately, I hope I and others get our points back. I only lost 40,000 although they tried to get all of my points. Several purchase attempts were rejected because the credit card they tried to use to pay the sales tax on the tickets was rejected (so I was told).
Jan 12, 2019, 2:25 pm
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,072
My wife was detained for about 30 minutes at TPA because we purchased the ticket using her maiden name before we were married and her drivers license had her married name. We purchased the tickets month in advance and forgot about the name change.
She had her passport buried in her carry on that showed he maiden name or I'm not sure if we would have made our flight
So you are saying we have no idea who is boarding planes and if I ever can't make a flight I can just sell my ticket to someone else as the name on the ticket doesn't matter..................
She had her passport buried in her carry on that showed he maiden name or I'm not sure if we would have made our flight
So you are saying we have no idea who is boarding planes and if I ever can't make a flight I can just sell my ticket to someone else as the name on the ticket doesn't matter..................
Let's say you are at a bar in the airport and decide to not fly. Guy next to you just flew in and is about to head home and willing to buy your boarding pass from you. Would it work?
Of course it would.
Not saying it is legal, just there is no problem doing it.
Jan 12, 2019, 2:27 pm
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,072
I did not see if that means one person with multiple tickets, two people, 20 people or hundreds of thousands.
Based on this board, you can make a wild assumption it is not a massive issue. Of course this stuff happens. But, is a major problem of significant scope?
Jan 12, 2019, 2:37 pm
#58
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 204
Jan 12, 2019, 2:39 pm
#59
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ATL
Posts: 1,910
Think through the process to get on the plane and you can figure this out.
Let's say you are at a bar in the airport and decide to not fly. Guy next to you just flew in and is about to head home and willing to buy your boarding pass from you. Would it work?
Of course it would.
Not saying it is legal, just there is no problem doing it.
Let's say you are at a bar in the airport and decide to not fly. Guy next to you just flew in and is about to head home and willing to buy your boarding pass from you. Would it work?
Of course it would.
Not saying it is legal, just there is no problem doing it.
Jan 12, 2019, 2:40 pm
#60
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,502
Think through the process to get on the plane and you can figure this out.
Let's say you are at a bar in the airport and decide to not fly. Guy next to you just flew in and is about to head home and willing to buy your boarding pass from you. Would it work?
Of course it would.
Not saying it is legal, just there is no problem doing it.
Let's say you are at a bar in the airport and decide to not fly. Guy next to you just flew in and is about to head home and willing to buy your boarding pass from you. Would it work?
Of course it would.
Not saying it is legal, just there is no problem doing it.
Or he can take a screenshot and enlarge the barcode. Free apps decode them and quickly he has all he needs to hack your airline account.
