Fake Qantas Telephone Scam currently active

[Mwenenzi]

Just an FYI

People are being sent texts asking them to call 1800 227 4500 due to a flight change, which is their US number, but from an Australian SIM/account you seem to connect to 1800 227 450 which is an Australian number, and routes to an Indian scam shop. They ask for your booking reference and surname, after which they log into “manage your booking” for various types of mischief, chiefly demanding a credit card payment because of the rebooking.

Because people calling the US number with an Australian phone are often doing so because of a flight change, it’s pretty effective.

Qantas have been informed but the scammers are still happily answering the phone.

https://www.qantas.com/nz/en/support/contact-us.html#the-americas

Canada	+1 800 227 4500** Deaf, hearing or speech impaired customers can call the National Relay Service by dialling 711, then ask for us on +1 800 227 4500 Canada	24 hours, 7 days a week
Mexico	+1 800 227 4500**	24 hours, 7 days a week
USA	+1 800 227 4500** For the USA, deaf, hearing or speech impaired customers can call the National Relay Service by dialling 711, then ask for us on +1 800 227 4500 USA	24 hours, 7 days a week

USA 1800 227 4500 is the QF number
Some scamer will be spoofing the number

 

[Princess Fiona]

https://www.qantas.com/nz/en/support/contact-us.html#the-americas

USA 1800 227 4500 is the QF number
Some scamer will be spoofing the number

The scammer has registered the Australian 1800 number with exactly the same digits minus the last zero.
Their name / business is freely available via ACMA.
It’s not a fake / spoofed caller ID.

 

[p--and--t]

The number when called from an Aussie sim is supposed to be +1 800 227 4500

View attachment 402743Perhaps QF could change their auto text to reflect this?
I can see why people might just assume it’s a regular 1800 number in Australia and not bother adding the “+” prefix. Dialing the scam 1800 227 450(0)

Might be easier than getting the Australian scam 1800 number removed but likely would still catch some people out.

Agreed. Presume this text is only sent to North America originating sectors?

I note Symbio the Telco providing the AU number were sent 777,268 reports of scams and only investigated 9 then took 4 months to take any action after being advised. Then all our "regulator" did was issue a warning!

 

[rechoboam]

And after spending 0,000's and many weeks on obtaining that court order and waiting for it maybe never to be actioned and if it is actioned the number changed to a new one within hours and the scam continue unabated.

The cost of an uncontested application for an order to the phone provider to disconnect would be beyond trivial for a company like this, and the chance of a provider regulated under Federal legislation engaging in litigation in order to specifically allow organised criminals to commit fraud using their resources…seems low to me.

They can change to a new number. The problem is specifically this one. grxxleioc.com can pretend to be the google homepage, but there’s a reason Google controls the domain g00gle.com using zeros

 

[p--and--t]

The cost of an uncontested application for an order to the phone provider to disconnect would be beyond trivial for a company like this, and the chance of a provider regulated under Federal legislation engaging in litigation in order to specifically allow organised criminals to commit fraud using their resources…seems low to me.

They can change to a new number. The problem is specifically this one. grxxleioc.com can pretend to be the google homepage, but there’s a reason Google controls the domain g00gle.com using zeros

See post #23

 

[Cynicor]

And after spending 0,000's and many weeks on obtaining that court order and waiting for it maybe never to be actioned and if it is actioned the number changed to a new one within hours and the scam continue unabated.

That’s not how this scam works. It’s about the number being dialled, so there is a single number to block and the scam fails.

Reading comprehension, please.

 

[p--and--t]

That’s not how this scam works. It’s about the number being dialled, so there is a single number to block and the scam fails.

Reading comprehension, please.

I understand the process. True if the action a was effective in the courts and the Telco actually did something, It will stop the scamming of QF but not stop them scamming.

As stated above another post by Princess Fiona they can change to the number of another airline (Eg SingAir) and continue scamming

 

[opusman]

Is the phone number really relevant? Most scamees do not stop to check things, that's the whole premise of scams. I doubt many people are looking up what the Qantas number really is and therefore getting fooled by the similar looking number. They're just doing what the text says.

 

[Cynicor]

Is the phone number really relevant? Most scamees do not stop to check things, that's the whole premise of scams. I doubt many people are looking up what the Qantas number really is and therefore getting fooled by the similar looking number. They're just doing what the text says.

Yes- but the text is legitimate.

 

[PaulST]

So an update. I called them back 2 days ago and politely explained that QF told me I should not have been charged so could I please have a refund. I didn't accuse them of being scammers or anything aggressive. I've just checked my bank and it appears the full amount has been refunded. Maybe they figured I would just go away if they refunded rather than complaining to QF, banks and the authorities??

 

[Princess Fiona]

So an update. I called them back 2 days ago and politely explained that QF told me I should not have been charged so could I please have a refund. I didn't accuse them of being scammers or anything aggressive. I've just checked my bank and it appears the full amount has been refunded. Maybe they figured I would just go away if they refunded rather than complaining to QF, banks and the authorities??

Great news. They also probably figured out that their scam ends if you manage to bring it to the attention of said authorities and the number gets cut off.

 

[Cynicor]

I wonder if the reason they aren’t shut down is they are performing a legitimate service for a legitimate charge, but without customer awareness.

I.e. you call them, you tell them the problem, they consent you to a charge and fix the issues.

But- it should have all been free if you called the correct number?

This is like those asic renewal scams that have been around for 30-40 years. You pay them a large fee to renew things that can be done for much less, but it just seems all legitimate

 

[Scr77]

I wonder if the reason they aren’t shut down is they are performing a legitimate service for a legitimate charge, but without customer awareness.

I.e. you call them, you tell them the problem, they consent you to a charge and fix the issues.

But- it should have all been free if you called the correct number?

This is like those asic renewal scams that have been around for 30-40 years. You pay them a large fee to renew things that can be done for much less, but it just seems all legitimate

This is an interesting point. Are they answering the phone as qantas or something else?

 

[tinkybelle]

they dont answer as qantas they wait for you to tell them your problem and yes I think Qantas should get the regulator to shut down the number as they are purporting to be Qantas cost service once you've given them your reference and charge for a service that should be free.
when I reported the sing air scam in April last year to sing air they really didnt give a cough either

 

[offshore171]

I wonder if the reason they aren’t shut down is they are performing a legitimate service for a legitimate charge, but without customer awareness.

It does sound awfully close to the concept of "passing off", which is a breach of the Trade Practices Act.

 

[moa999]

All depends on their script.. suspect they are skating around it.
And basically charging a fee for no service and hoping the passenger will be happy with whatever Qantas auto provides.

Definitely Qantas should do better with it's texts by either adding the +1.
And/or an If your phone is roaming please call the different Australian number.

Great strategy by PaulST to get a refund

 

[JohnK]

I'm struggling to see the scam which probably means I'm susceptible to being scammed.

There's been a flight change, you call a fake number, they log into your booking, make a change for you that is free anyway, and then ask for credit card details and charge you an amount for helping you?

What a stupid mess. Shut the number down, shut the scam company down. It should be that easy.

 

[Cynicor]

I'm struggling to see the scam which probably means I'm susceptible to being scammed.

There's been a flight change, you call a fake number, they log into your booking, make a change for you that is free anyway, and then ask for credit card details and charge you an amount for helping you?

What a stupid mess. Shut the number down, shut the scam company down. It should be that easy.

Kind of.
Qantas has a flight change. You are in the USA (can probably apply to other countries too).
The offical, legitimate sms says to call a 1800 number.
This number is a legitimate number in the USA but an Aussie sim that is roaming will call a dodgy Australian copy of it, due to how roaming sims treat 1800 numbers.
On the other end of the USA number is legit Qantas staff but in the other end of the dodgy number is person who will, it seems, change your flights for a fee.

The fee is the scam part.

 

[p--and--t]

I'm struggling to see the scam which probably means I'm susceptible to being scammed.

There's been a flight change, you call a fake number, they log into your booking, make a change for you that is free anyway, and then ask for credit card details and charge you an amount for helping you?

What a stupid mess. Shut the number down, shut the scam company down. It should be that easy.

All very simple except the scammers are in a country that has thousands of them & beyond the reach of AU legal system, the company providing the number has been told repeatedly it's a scam number and took no action (and even for the few they investigated stalled for 4 months) and when the Telco caught not following their obligations the AU regulator is so it issues a slight tap on the wrist warning.

 

[moa999]

And cross+post to another victim on Reddit.

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www.reddit.com

They were successful in disputing the charges.