Emirates advised fliers to be wary.
With the chaos caused by the war between Iran, the U.S., and Israel, scammers are preying on travelers stranded in the Middle East or facing travel disruptions. Earlier this week, Dubai-based airline Emirates warned travelers that imposter accounts are active on X, urging people to exercise caution.
There was a time when everyone aired grievances with brands online on Twitter (now X). However, public complaints on social media have led to fake accounts that intercept messages and swindle travelers. These accounts have similar names to the brands and are detected only upon closer inspection.
Here’s how the scam works: Fake accounts on the internet, posing as airlines or travel companies, reply to posts as if they are official customer care representatives. They move conversations to other platforms, such as WhatsApp, and persuade people to share private information, including phone numbers, emails, and booking codes. With this information, scammers don’t just gain access to your bank accounts. They can also cancel flights or hotel bookings and secure refunds to their own accounts, or use your miles and points to make purchases.
This is what Emirates is currently warning about. Travelers are advised to check their flight status online and only go to the airport if their flight is still operating.
Related: This Airline Scam Is All Over Google Right Now. Here’s How to Protect Yourself
The reminder from Emirates comes at a time when travel scams have become so sophisticated they’re difficult to detect. Everything can be faked, and as data leaks continue to rise, customers have fewer protections against criminals.
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Guests have been warned that scammers are sending emails or private text messages requesting payment detail updates after booking hotels through Booking.com. Fake customer service centers have appeared, and phone numbers on Google searches have been altered to lure victims. Even those who take all the right steps can become victims—like an American traveler who called a legitimate customer service number but was later patched through to a scammer, resulting in a $17,000 loss.
Related: United Customer Scammed Out of $17,000 by Calling Legit Customer Service Number
It’s strongly advised to contact customer care only through the official app or website, and not to trust Google search results. Always double-check names on social media platforms. Unfortunately, X has changed its blue check policy: It is now a premium membership anyone can purchase. Be wary of verified accounts on social media, too.
Related: How to Protect Yourself From the 10 Most Common AI Travel Scams
Travel Disruptions Continue
Thousands of passengers are stranded in the Middle East after the United States and Israel carried out attacks on Iran this weekend. Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in the conflict, and Iran has promised indiscriminate retaliation, targeting Israel as well as American military bases in the region. The conflict has expanded to include the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. As a result, these countries have partially or fully closed their airspace and airport operations have been disrupted.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha are major international hubs, and flights—even those originating elsewhere—often transit through them. The impact has spread globally, with airlines canceling, delaying, and rerouting flights.
People are trying to flee the region, but very few flights have departed from Dubai or Abu Dhabi since Saturday. While passenger planes are mostly grounded, charter flights have continued, with the wealthy paying their way out of conflict. Foreign governments are running repatriation flights to rescue their citizens. Emirates suspended flights until March 4, while Abu Dhabi stopped operations until March 5. Qatar’s airspace is also closed.
