Calgary woman frustrated over WestJet customer service scam

A Calgary lady is annoyed after a WestJet customer support scammer tried to swindle her cash and banking info.

Kathryn Harris was purported to depart on a WestJet flight from Vancouver to Calgary on December twenty third. After her flight was canceled on account of a snowstorm in Vancouver, WestJet promised to ebook her on a flight inside two days or give her a full refund.

When she was not rebooked, she tried to begin the method to get her a reimbursement. Nevertheless, the WestJet web site and customer support line have been lower than useful.

She then clicked on a hyperlink to be redirected to WestJet’s Fb web page to talk with a dwell agent by means of Fb Messenger, however was as an alternative transferred to a fraudulent web page.

Harris stated she spoke with somebody posing as a customer support agent named Juliet, however turned suspicious once they began asking for her banking and private info.

“She stated you might want to obtain this desktop app, which might give her entry to have a look at my account and stroll me by means of the method,” Harris stated.

“Then abruptly they despatched me a hyperlink that was on the pc to Capital One and I did not like that both. Then they needed me to obtain this app that merely makes funds.

“They stated they needed to confirm my info and I received to some extent the place I lastly stated they have been a rip-off.”

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Harris is not the one one being duped by scammers. In an emailed assertion to International Information, a WestJet spokesperson stated the corporate is conscious of a number of fraudulent web sites and social media accounts impersonating the airline.

“We’ve obtained a lot of reported circumstances associated to fraudulent web sites and social media accounts impersonating our enterprise,” stated Denise Kenney, WestJet’s media and public relations strategist.

“Whereas our cybersecurity group works diligently to deal with this ongoing matter, we advise all our visitors to stay vigilant in opposition to potential scams and fraud and ask that they double-check that the WestJet account they work together with is verified.”

Lisa Kearney, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Ladies CyberSecurity Society, stated scammers will make the most of the vacations when airways are usually backed up.

“Folks do not concentrate they usually’re very burdened they usually simply do not have a look at the advantageous particulars. On-line scammers will typically spoof an electronic mail deal with or an internet web site … Folks will simply enter their info as shortly as doable to attempt to transfer issues ahead,” Kearney instructed 770 CHQR.

“Sadly, that is a kind of methods that criminals use to make the most of folks and it is a high-risk interval.”

Kearney additionally stated ladies usually tend to be focused in some of these scams, in addition to on-line violence and hate.

The dangers are better when they’re older.

“Ladies are focused extra as a result of in some circumstances they’re typically much less technologically savvy, not all the time. They might not have the identical publicity to know-how that males of their similar age group have,” the cyber safety knowledgeable stated.

“Basically, older ladies are focused in terms of elder abuse or on-line fraud. Sadly, older ladies are simpler targets as a result of they’re extra vulnerable to believing what somebody tells them.”

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However many youthful folks additionally fall for scams. In her 26 years as a cybersecurity knowledgeable, Kearney stated she has seen a rise in younger folks falling for on-line monetary scams.

“What has pushed it in the previous couple of years is the pandemic, the place increasingly individuals are interacting on-line than ever earlier than and with out understanding shield themselves from nefarious individuals who need to make the most of them,” she stated. stated .

Professor Tom Keenan, College of Calgary College of Structure, Planning and Panorama, stated scammers additionally goal folks throughout irritating and fearful occasions when individuals are most weak.

“These are dangerous guys who make the most of human concern,” Keenan stated.

“There are a selection of issues that may occur. One is that you’ll give info and somebody can steal your bank card. One other is that your pc may get hijacked and abruptly you’ve gotten malware searching for your info.

“Typically your cellphone quantity is concerned… You get transferred to a international cellphone quantity and you find yourself with an enormous cellphone invoice since you’re not conscious that you just’re speaking to a scammer.”

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Schooling is vital, cyber safety specialists say

One of the simplest ways to keep away from falling sufferer to scams and phishing makes an attempt is to be educated, cybersecurity specialists stated.

Airways usually have banners and pages warning prospects about rip-off campaigns, Kearney stated. However one of the simplest ways to guard your self is to safe your personal and private info, she stated.

When you suspect you might be being scammed, report the incident to the Canadian Heart for Cyber ​​Safety, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Heart or the RCMP.

“By no means give info to strangers. All the time name the corporate instantly again utilizing the cellphone quantity you’ve gotten as an alternative of cellphone numbers that may be simply spoofed,” stated the Ladies CyberSecurity Society founder.

“We all the time encourage folks to safe their accounts… Lock your social media accounts and allow two-factor authentication on your emails. Block folks you do not need to work together with to guard your self from any type of destructive feedback or consideration.

“By no means share passwords and all the time use a password supervisor that may help you set complicated passwords for various accounts.”

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When you use social media websites to attempt to attain customer support brokers, do not publish your info publicly. Keenan stated he is seen many individuals publish their reservation references, flight particulars and even bank card numbers when making an attempt to get WestJet’s consideration on Fb or Twitter.

“Folks must perform a little detective work. “When you see a web page that is solely been round for per week and solely has 27 folks following it, that is a rip-off,” Keenan stated.

“One of many different indicators is that if folks need to make it easier to, they may. In the event that they let you know that you will get your refund tomorrow, even when the airline has turned you down, they’re most likely simply making an attempt to get your bank card particulars.”

WestJet should do extra, client group says

Harris stated she just isn’t giving up on getting a refund from WestJet, however provides that extra must be completed to forestall prospects from being defrauded.

“I will maintain making an attempt. I am trying on their web site for an electronic mail to see if I can electronic mail them this info, however they should know that their web site is directing folks to that (fraudulent) Fb Messenger website,” she stated.

“They need to both repair it or take away it fully as a result of I did not fall for it, however others may and that is a disgrace.”

Tahira Dawood, a workers lawyer for the Public Curiosity Advocacy Heart, stated she is anxious that WestJet’s chat system is hosted on Fb Messenger.

Sadly, there is no such thing as a particular provision within the Air Passenger Safety Laws coping with fraud.

“It’s a lot safer and higher for WestJet to put money into a portal that’s safer than Fb Messenger,” she stated.

“You are a giant airline, it is best to have the ability to afford to have your individual portal that is safe reasonably than having passengers undergo totally different web sites to get their refund.”