Disclaimer: Information on this page is for general guidance only. Airline policies, fares, discounts, and government rules change frequently. Always verify with the airline or official source before making decisions. Rules vary by airline, fare type, route, and date.
Every year, thousands of Indians lose money to flight booking scams. From fake customer care numbers to phishing emails, scammers are getting smarter. Here's how to protect yourself.
1. Fake Customer Care Numbers
How it works: You Google "[airline name] customer care" and call a fake number listed on a fraudulent website. The scammer pretends to be an airline agent and asks for your:
- PNR and booking details
- Credit/debit card number for "refund processing"
- OTP sent to your phone
Protection:
- - €™ - € - ¦ ONLY call numbers from the official airline website or app
- - €™ - € - ¦ Airlines NEVER ask for card numbers over the phone for refunds
- - €™ - € - ¦ Never share OTP with anyone claiming to be airline staff
2. Phishing Websites
How it works: Fake websites that look identical to airline or travel agent sites. URLs are slightly different (e.g., indigo-flights.com instead of goindigo.in).
Protection:
- - €™ - € - ¦ Check URL carefully - €™ - €š - look for HTTPS and correct domain
- - €™ - € - ¦ Bookmark official airline websites
- - €™ - € - ¦ Use trusted booking platforms like TheBookFlight.com
- - €™ - € - ¦ Never click booking links in unsolicited emails or SMS
3. WhatsApp Flight Deal Scams
How it works: Messages offering " - €™ - € - ¹999 flights" or "free tickets" via WhatsApp, asking you to click a link or share the message.
Protection:
- - €™ - € - ¦ No airline offers free tickets via WhatsApp forwards
- - €™ - € - ¦ Never click suspicious links in messages
- - €™ - € - ¦ Report and block such numbers
4. Fake Refund Calls
How it works: Someone calls saying your flight is cancelled and offers a refund. They ask you to download a screen-sharing app (AnyDesk, TeamViewer) to "process" the refund.
Protection:
- - €™ - € - ¦ NEVER install screen-sharing apps for refunds
- - €™ - € - ¦ Airlines process refunds to the original payment method - €™ - €š - they don't need remote access
- - €™ - € - ¦ Hang up and contact the airline directly via their official app/website
5. Social Media Impersonation
How it works: Fake airline accounts on Twitter/X respond to your complaint and ask you to DM your booking details.
Protection:
- - €™ - € - ¦ Check for verified badges (blue checkmark)
- - €™ - € - ¦ Official airline handles have consistent branding
- - €™ - € - ¦ Never share PNR, phone number, or payment details in DMs
Red Flags - €™ - €š - How to Spot a Scam
- - €™ - €š - © Anyone asking for OTP or card CVV
- - €™ - €š - © Offers that are "too good to be true" ( - €™ - € - ¹500 flights on trunk routes)
- - €™ - €š - © Urgency pressure ("offer expires in 2 minutes")
- - €™ - €š - © Requests to download screen-sharing apps
- - €™ - €š - © Payment via UPI to personal numbers instead of company accounts
- - €™ - €š - © Booking confirmation from Gmail/Yahoo instead of official airline email
What to Do If You've Been Scammed
- Immediately: Call your bank and block the card/freeze UPI
- Report: File complaint at cybercrime.gov.in
- Police: File FIR at nearest police station
- RBI: Report unauthorized transaction within 3 days for potential reversal
- Airline: Inform the airline if scammers used their name
Book Safely with TheBookFlight
TheBookFlight.com is a legitimate, transparent booking platform. We never ask for OTP or card details over phone. All transactions are secure. Book your flight safely.