Phone Scam Warning - New Reservations Center Tour
Jan 13, 2021, 8:38 pm
#1
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,205
Phone Scam Warning - New Reservations Center Tour
Received a call this evening from a local number in the Laguna Hills CA area, a Filipino male with rather broken English, obviously not in Laguna Hills, told me he was calling on behalf of United Airlines and thanking me for my business and loyalty, and offered me an invitation to tour a new reservations center opening in Laguna Hills, plus for my troubles, a free round trip ticket anywhere in the USA with "no money out of my pocket whatsoever". I was busy and didn't want to continue the call to see where it would end up, most likely a request for a credit card number to guarantee my tour slot.
So, be on the lookout for this type of call and if asked, do not give out your personal information or credit card details. Now what I need to know is, how these people got ahold of my name and phone number and somehow associated me with United Airlines.
So, be on the lookout for this type of call and if asked, do not give out your personal information or credit card details. Now what I need to know is, how these people got ahold of my name and phone number and somehow associated me with United Airlines.
Jan 13, 2021, 8:54 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,452
Received a call this evening from a local number in the Laguna Hills CA area, a Filipino male with rather broken English, obviously not in Laguna Hills, told me he was calling on behalf of United Airlines and thanking me for my business and loyalty, and offered me an invitation to tour a new reservations center opening in Laguna Hills, plus for my troubles, a free round trip ticket anywhere in the USA with "no money out of my pocket whatsoever". I was busy and didn't want to continue the call to see where it would end up, most likely a request for a credit card number to guarantee my tour slot.
So, be on the lookout for this type of call and if asked, do not give out your personal information or credit card details. Now what I need to know is, how these people got ahold of my name and phone number and somehow associated me with United Airlines.
So, be on the lookout for this type of call and if asked, do not give out your personal information or credit card details. Now what I need to know is, how these people got ahold of my name and phone number and somehow associated me with United Airlines.
Jan 13, 2021, 10:27 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
Jan 14, 2021, 9:30 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
However, almost surely the phone number was spoofed.
Originally Posted by fcc
Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Scammers often use neighbor spoofing so it appears that an incoming call is coming from a local number, or spoof a number from a company or a government agency that you may already know and trust. If you answer, they use scam scripts to try to steal your money or valuable personal information, which can be used in fraudulent activity.
Jan 14, 2021, 10:00 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,802
Received a call this evening from a local number in the Laguna Hills CA area, a Filipino male with rather broken English, obviously not in Laguna Hills, told me he was calling on behalf of United Airlines and thanking me for my business and loyalty, and offered me an invitation to tour a new reservations center opening in Laguna Hills, plus for my troubles, a free round trip ticket anywhere in the USA with "no money out of my pocket whatsoever". I was busy and didn't want to continue the call to see where it would end up, most likely a request for a credit card number to guarantee my tour slot.
So, be on the lookout for this type of call and if asked, do not give out your personal information or credit card details. Now what I need to know is, how these people got ahold of my name and phone number and somehow associated me with United Airlines.
So, be on the lookout for this type of call and if asked, do not give out your personal information or credit card details. Now what I need to know is, how these people got ahold of my name and phone number and somehow associated me with United Airlines.
Jan 14, 2021, 2:57 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: Mileage Plus, Marriott Rewards, Southwest Rapid Rewards
Posts: 686
Funny image.
However, almost surely the phone number was spoofed.
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides...-and-caller-id
However, almost surely the phone number was spoofed.
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides...-and-caller-id
Jan 14, 2021, 3:15 pm
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
The call center employees are going to have long commutes, but they're so lucky that UA is hiring now, in the middle of a pandemic.
Jan 14, 2021, 8:26 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,205
Anyway, I just wanted our community to be on the lookout for this type of call and not get suckered.
Jan 14, 2021, 8:36 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,047
I agree. Even the most ardent MileagePlus aficionado wouldn't be missing much.
Last edited by SPN Lifer; Jan 24, 2021 at 3:00 pm
Jan 15, 2021, 11:30 am
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
At one of the FT Austin DOs, SOG Plats were invited to breakfast and a tour of the Starwood call center. Our group was filled to capacity even though status was carefully verified for the event. Personally, I thought it was interesting, although I wouldn't make a special trip for this.