Email from UA in Mexico City is legit, right?
Oct 16, 2018, 2:54 pm
#31
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,335
Still not sure how someone at United could/can somehow charge less than actual fare.
Oct 16, 2018, 2:58 pm
#32
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: PVR/CLE
Programs: UA 1MM
Posts: 282
Emails originating from Mexico generally have [email protected] as an address.
the .mx at the end....
the .mx at the end....
Oct 16, 2018, 3:12 pm
#33
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
Okay, to conclude, I believe it is legit. However, I advise against providing your regular CC over the phone.
While I believe you will get 100% legit UA tickets at $50 less pp, you have no control over where your CC data will go after it has been processed for this transaction. Note I'm not implying this particular person is up to no good, rather I'm saying he may scribble your CC data down, toss it away in the bin when ending his shift, and there could be multiple opportunities for bad actors to recover your data from the trash after that. Also, note this is not anything specific against Mexico, this advice applies to the US as well (and any country in the world). It's naďve to think this stuff only happens south of el border.
The easiest way may indeed be to load a prepaid CC with the amount required and use that. Make sure to independently verify that the number you're calling definitely belongs to United in Mexico. Alternatively, try to find out if the published fare hasn't dropped which may explain the $50 discount, and if yes, just book online the regular way.
While I believe you will get 100% legit UA tickets at $50 less pp, you have no control over where your CC data will go after it has been processed for this transaction. Note I'm not implying this particular person is up to no good, rather I'm saying he may scribble your CC data down, toss it away in the bin when ending his shift, and there could be multiple opportunities for bad actors to recover your data from the trash after that. Also, note this is not anything specific against Mexico, this advice applies to the US as well (and any country in the world). It's naďve to think this stuff only happens south of el border.
The easiest way may indeed be to load a prepaid CC with the amount required and use that. Make sure to independently verify that the number you're calling definitely belongs to United in Mexico. Alternatively, try to find out if the published fare hasn't dropped which may explain the $50 discount, and if yes, just book online the regular way.
Last edited by mozilla; Oct 16, 2018 at 3:45 pm
Oct 16, 2018, 3:21 pm
#35
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
If the scammer has access to your email account it would be easy for them to see your reply to the email, then spoof another reply to appear from @UNITED.com
Not to mention that he probably wouldn't need this elaborate social engineering scheme at all, chances are that access to the email account will reveal more than enough details to get credit card information through easier means which don't involve the assistance of OP.
One exception may be if the OP is really being targeted for some very specific reason, but then the OP should have noticed other signs as well.
Last edited by mozilla; Oct 16, 2018 at 3:27 pm
Oct 16, 2018, 7:20 pm
#37
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: PEK, AUS, WAS, HKG
Programs: CX Gold
Posts: 1,122
I got an email from a United.com email address, purportedly from the Mexico City office. The gentleman sending the email saw a reservation I have to travel to MEX, but haven't paid for. He said he could ticket it for $50 less per person than the price on the reservation (3 people). He knew my confirmation number and the price. All I have to do is call him and give him my CC info.
It seems legit. And $150 savings is not nothing. I wrote back to him (at the united.com email address) and he responded right away.
BUT... I just hate calling someone in Mexico I don't know and giving him by CC info. Thoughts?
It seems legit. And $150 savings is not nothing. I wrote back to him (at the united.com email address) and he responded right away.
BUT... I just hate calling someone in Mexico I don't know and giving him by CC info. Thoughts?
How do you have a reservation that you didn't pay for? FareLock, booked via a travel agents, or what?
The more I think about it, I can see that this could absolutely be legitimate. Many companies have systems that detect abandoned "shopping carts" on websites and then try and get you back. If you walked all the way through the booking process on the website and then canceled out (leaving the reservation but without then ticket) then having someone follow up to try and get you back - especially if the fare has dropped in the interim - would potentially make sense.
The more I think about it, I can see that this could absolutely be legitimate. Many companies have systems that detect abandoned "shopping carts" on websites and then try and get you back. If you walked all the way through the booking process on the website and then canceled out (leaving the reservation but without then ticket) then having someone follow up to try and get you back - especially if the fare has dropped in the interim - would potentially make sense.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 16, 2018 at 8:18 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
Oct 16, 2018, 9:17 pm
#38
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Houston
Programs: UA 1K and Million Miler, *A Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hertz Five Star,
Posts: 1,301
So they actually use a @UNITED.com address, and you sent a reply to that @UNITED.com address and they replied from that address? Reminds me of this recent thread, where it turned out to be legitimate.
I'm not ruling out a scam, but using an actual @UNITED.com means either employee or breach*, and it's not part of the 99% of scams that just use spoofed email addresses. I'm assuming all email traffic going through @UNITED.com is logged, so if this is a rogue employee, then it won't last long.
Apply due diligence, confirm the email address on United's website (as they did in the other topic), call to a known and published number and try to get hold of the staff member that way.
*(Ok, technically it could also be DNS poisoning or malware on your end, but if it gets that elaborate, it's usually because they expect to make a lot more money than they could by selling a fake airline ticket).
I'm not ruling out a scam, but using an actual @UNITED.com means either employee or breach*, and it's not part of the 99% of scams that just use spoofed email addresses. I'm assuming all email traffic going through @UNITED.com is logged, so if this is a rogue employee, then it won't last long.
Apply due diligence, confirm the email address on United's website (as they did in the other topic), call to a known and published number and try to get hold of the staff member that way.
*(Ok, technically it could also be DNS poisoning or malware on your end, but if it gets that elaborate, it's usually because they expect to make a lot more money than they could by selling a fake airline ticket).
Oct 16, 2018, 9:57 pm
#39
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 111
I would give them your cc info in a heartbeat. Mostly because it is yours and not mine and I want to know what happens in this saga.
But if it were my credit card, I would just call UA and ask about honoring the deal. I would imagine they would confirm, deny or be able to look into it more and figure it out. Might be standard practice in Mexico to email people and let them know the fare dropped and you can now book for less.
But yeah, go for and let us know the results. The worst that can happen is the card gets shut down for fraud and you have to get a new one.
But if it were my credit card, I would just call UA and ask about honoring the deal. I would imagine they would confirm, deny or be able to look into it more and figure it out. Might be standard practice in Mexico to email people and let them know the fare dropped and you can now book for less.
But yeah, go for and let us know the results. The worst that can happen is the card gets shut down for fraud and you have to get a new one.
Oct 16, 2018, 11:12 pm
#40
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,147
OP was flying TO Mexico, so at least there is a Mexican angle to the story. I agree it's still a little odd, but it makes more sense than if he was flying (say) US to Europe.
Oct 17, 2018, 4:40 am
#41
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Silver, AA, WN, DL
Posts: 4,091
Why not call the Mexico ticketing office (from listed number on UA website) and ask to be connected to the individual.
Or if you are unable to connect to that specific agent, explain the letter to the agent on the line and see what you get.
Use Skype or some other VoIP service for cheap calls (worth the effort to save $150).
Looked up their MX offices:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/contact/reservations/mexico.aspx
Dug around some more (because what else to do at 4AM
) the office opened back in 2015 (use Google translate for article)
https://www.4vientos.mx/galeria-de-imagenes/united-airlines-inaugura-nuevas-oficinas/
Another thought: does this person have a profile on LinkedIn? Obviously that's easy to fake but a legit email and phone and online profile makes it much more likely it's a legit employee trying to convert a sale.
Or if you are unable to connect to that specific agent, explain the letter to the agent on the line and see what you get.
Use Skype or some other VoIP service for cheap calls (worth the effort to save $150).
Looked up their MX offices:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/contact/reservations/mexico.aspx
Dug around some more (because what else to do at 4AM
) the office opened back in 2015 (use Google translate for article)https://www.4vientos.mx/galeria-de-imagenes/united-airlines-inaugura-nuevas-oficinas/
Another thought: does this person have a profile on LinkedIn? Obviously that's easy to fake but a legit email and phone and online profile makes it much more likely it's a legit employee trying to convert a sale.
Last edited by luv2ctheworld; Oct 17, 2018 at 5:06 am
Oct 17, 2018, 4:44 am
#42
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Silver, AA, WN, DL
Posts: 4,091
Emails originating from Mexico generally have [email protected] as an address.
the .mx at the end....
the .mx at the end....
Oct 17, 2018, 6:09 am
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,973
Why not call the Mexico ticketing office (from listed number on UA website) and ask to be connected to the individual.
Or if you are unable to connect to that specific agent, explain the letter to the agent on the line and see what you get.
Use Skype or some other VoIP service for cheap calls (worth the effort to save $150).
Looked up their MX offices:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...ns/mexico.aspx
Dug around some more (because what else to do at 4AM ) the office opened back in 2015 (use Google translate for article)
https://www.4vientos.mx/galeria-de-i...evas-oficinas/
Or if you are unable to connect to that specific agent, explain the letter to the agent on the line and see what you get.
Use Skype or some other VoIP service for cheap calls (worth the effort to save $150).
Looked up their MX offices:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...ns/mexico.aspx
Dug around some more (because what else to do at 4AM
) the office opened back in 2015 (use Google translate for article)https://www.4vientos.mx/galeria-de-i...evas-oficinas/
I just found the office on google maps. There certainly is a UA office there .Simply call and ask for the dude. That's it....
Oct 17, 2018, 6:17 am
#44
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
This is a road map for scammers to see how people talk themselves into believing that a fraud is legitimate. For $50.
In the time that has been wasted here, he could have called UA's standard reservations number and asked the same question. UA's systems are not siloed and there is nothing an agent can do in Mexico that can't be done here, vis-a-vis, handing out discounts.
OP will then have his answer. It is a scam, but he can certainly verify that himself.
Giving out your CC to someone who initiated the contact is, in this day, simply "suckerism" at its best (worst). There ought to be a provision that absolves CC issuers from chargebacks and other anti-fraud measures for which the rest of us pay, when the card holder participates.
In the time that has been wasted here, he could have called UA's standard reservations number and asked the same question. UA's systems are not siloed and there is nothing an agent can do in Mexico that can't be done here, vis-a-vis, handing out discounts.
OP will then have his answer. It is a scam, but he can certainly verify that himself.
Giving out your CC to someone who initiated the contact is, in this day, simply "suckerism" at its best (worst). There ought to be a provision that absolves CC issuers from chargebacks and other anti-fraud measures for which the rest of us pay, when the card holder participates.
Oct 17, 2018, 6:30 am
#45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: TX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 729