Scammed by a fake UA call center {Consoldiated}
Feb 21, 2019, 6:42 pm
#151
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
TBH I think the real culprit here is not so much the travel agency but rather Alphabet Inc., willing to take a quick buck without concerns of having their users scammed because they know those users can't avoid Google in the future.
I do not believe this travel agency popped up above UA in the organic search results. It did so in the paid ads results, which appear on top of the organic results.
Google did have the chance to not accept this ad for this specific search query, instead, Google happily pocketed the money and placed the clearly misleading search result on top of the legitimate search results when their user relied on them for accurate information, enabling the scammers in what they do.
I highly doubt this is the first documented case, and I highly doubt Google isn't aware that it is happening.
I do not believe this travel agency popped up above UA in the organic search results. It did so in the paid ads results, which appear on top of the organic results.
Google did have the chance to not accept this ad for this specific search query, instead, Google happily pocketed the money and placed the clearly misleading search result on top of the legitimate search results when their user relied on them for accurate information, enabling the scammers in what they do.
I highly doubt this is the first documented case, and I highly doubt Google isn't aware that it is happening.
Not sure that some guy running a legit TA in Edinburgh and who provides the same corporate profile as OP found for his scammer, would agree with you.
Feb 21, 2019, 6:46 pm
#152
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
I do not believe this travel agency popped up above UA in the organic search results. It did so in the paid ads results, which appear on top of the organic results.
Google did have the chance to not accept this ad for this specific search query, instead, Google happily pocketed the money and placed the clearly misleading search result on top of the legitimate search results when their user relied on them for accurate information, enabling the scammers in what they do.
I highly doubt this is the first documented case, and I highly doubt Google isn't aware that it is happening.
Google did have the chance to not accept this ad for this specific search query, instead, Google happily pocketed the money and placed the clearly misleading search result on top of the legitimate search results when their user relied on them for accurate information, enabling the scammers in what they do.
I highly doubt this is the first documented case, and I highly doubt Google isn't aware that it is happening.
Safe Travels,
James
Feb 21, 2019, 6:50 pm
#153
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
"Not so much". Scammers are going to scam, always did, always going to do. But if it was not for Google happily putting the scammer's ads on top, legitimizing the scam to an extent, OP would've never been scammed. Or was OP wrong to believe that Google would provide him with accurate information?
As the only company in this story raking in more than 100 billions of dollars in revenue annually, and employing 100k people, and access to an enormous capacity of computing power and the brightest brains in the world, they surely were best placed to prevent this from happening, nor did they have any incentive to enable this scam. Yet, the quick buck won, once again.
As the only company in this story raking in more than 100 billions of dollars in revenue annually, and employing 100k people, and access to an enormous capacity of computing power and the brightest brains in the world, they surely were best placed to prevent this from happening, nor did they have any incentive to enable this scam. Yet, the quick buck won, once again.
Last edited by mozilla; Feb 21, 2019 at 6:55 pm
Feb 21, 2019, 7:27 pm
#154
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Here today gone tomorrow
Programs: *G, ow Saph
Posts: 2,865
Heck, your information might have been SAFER with the scammer, if it was one...
Feb 21, 2019, 7:29 pm
#155
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,532
Feb 21, 2019, 7:56 pm
#156
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,421
I've become more and more convinced "Corporate Security" doesn't do much as long as it's not something that costs the company money (not specifically UA). Here you could argue UA's reputation is on the line, but is it really, and would that keep people from flying with UA, and is it worth it to go after a scammer in a foreign untouchable country vs going after hidden city violations and certs bartering?
Feb 21, 2019, 8:05 pm
#157
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 26,704
They didn't specifically say they are not UA, but their terms and conditions do suggest they are not UA. The email was simply signed as "Support Team" with no mention of the company name.
You can see their email in my attachment below. Even if I didn't notice the sender of the email, I should have noticed the spelling and grammar errors. Obviously I didn't read the email carefully, I just saw the United logo and my itinerary info that was embedded as an image in the email and then quickly replied with the text that they requested.
As for what exactly they said on the phone, I can't say for sure because the call wasn't recorded.
You can see their email in my attachment below. Even if I didn't notice the sender of the email, I should have noticed the spelling and grammar errors. Obviously I didn't read the email carefully, I just saw the United logo and my itinerary info that was embedded as an image in the email and then quickly replied with the text that they requested.
As for what exactly they said on the phone, I can't say for sure because the call wasn't recorded.
"Telephonic" conversation? Who out there has even seen that word used in any sort of context ever?
"Fresh" charge on card?
And the message lacks articles all over the place. "Please check with relevant embassy" instead of "your relevant embassy" or "the relevant embassy." It's written on the level of many Nigerian money scams.
Feb 21, 2019, 9:34 pm
#158
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,160
Well, Mark Twain for starters. Plus anyone that has had telephonic conversations with Indians who seem to frequently use that term.
Last edited by docbert; Feb 21, 2019 at 10:31 pm Reason: Ironically, typo...
Feb 21, 2019, 10:21 pm
#159
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: China
Programs: OZ*G, Nexus, APEC
Posts: 122
Everything about this screen shot screams fraud. If you have even rudimentary English skills - even if it's not your native language - you should be able to spot the myriad of grammar errors in this email.
"Telephonic" conversation? Who out there has even seen that word used in any sort of context ever?
"Fresh" charge on card?
And the message lacks articles all over the place. "Please check with relevant embassy" instead of "your relevant embassy" or "the relevant embassy." It's written on the level of many Nigerian money scams.
"Telephonic" conversation? Who out there has even seen that word used in any sort of context ever?
"Fresh" charge on card?
And the message lacks articles all over the place. "Please check with relevant embassy" instead of "your relevant embassy" or "the relevant embassy." It's written on the level of many Nigerian money scams.
I know it's hard for some people to believe that a native English speaker and frequent traveler could fall for this kind of scam, but that's exactly what happened.
I'm not blaming anyone but myself, just trying to raise awareness for this kind of scam.
Feb 21, 2019, 10:31 pm
#160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 26,704
In the day and age of off-short and outsourced call centers, the fact an email has marginably question English in it's the same red flag it might have been years ago...
Well, Mark Twain for starters. Plus anyone that has had telephonic conversations with Indians who seem to frequently use that term.
Well, Mark Twain for starters. Plus anyone that has had telephonic conversations with Indians who seem to frequently use that term.
Feb 21, 2019, 10:42 pm
#161
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
I, for one, appreciate your decision to share your experience to help the next person who finds themselves in this situation. Thank you.
Feb 21, 2019, 11:02 pm
#162
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland CA
Programs: DL Gold, AS MVPG, Globalist
Posts: 1,008
Hope you get your money back, and if you have the energy definitely report this to the state Attorney General for the state where these clowns are located.
Last edited by dordal; Feb 21, 2019 at 11:11 pm
Feb 21, 2019, 11:43 pm
#163
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,752
Both OP and several others have pointed out that the number has been disconnected.
Scammers also collect inbound call numbers and use those as "live" for future scams. Unless you are lonely and want calls from scammers on a regular basis, it's not a good idea to engage any of them.
Scammers also collect inbound call numbers and use those as "live" for future scams. Unless you are lonely and want calls from scammers on a regular basis, it's not a good idea to engage any of them.
Has a great time of it!!!
Feb 26, 2020, 5:33 pm
#165
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Programs: Hilton-Diamond Lifetime Platinum AA UA, WN-CP, SPG Gold.
Posts: 7,377
Checked this out today on Google, they are using 1-855-373-2434, charging $200.00 and passing them off as United, but they are unable to look up the Reservation number,
Google needs to shut them down..
Google needs to shut them down..