Passengers warned about scam travel agencies manipulating Google search results

They later updated: "We got him a ticket home for tomorrow and the college where he was doing a summer music program has approved his stay there for an additional night. I messed up in my panic and thought I was calling American Airlines, and instead called a third-party reservation company that was presenting themselves as American and ended up paying $250 more for the ticket home. I double-checked with Delta and the ticket is legit. Thanks for help and suggestions!"

Reports indicate that scammers have taken over old phone numbers from airlines like Singapore Airlines, pretending to be customer service representatives and charging high fees for basic services typically provided at no cost.

A former boss recounted being scammed by a phone number provided by her travel agency, which she believed to be Delta Air Lines. The agents charged her $1,000 to move her and her granddaughter to flights scheduled for the next day after their original itinerary was canceled. After nine months, Delta Air Lines covered these costs.

Scam agencies purchase Google ads to appear at the top of search results when users look up airline phone numbers. This tactic has been used against customers of United Airlines, JetBlue, Hawaiian Airlines, among others, leading them to connect with agencies that often have poor ratings from organizations like the Better Business Bureau.

Another variation of this scam involves changing Google's search results to display fraudulent contact information specific to airports. For example, you might think you are calling your airline's JFK number but instead reach a scam agency.

To avoid falling victim to these scams, it is advised not to trust Google search results for airline phone numbers but rather visit the airline's official website directly to find accurate contact information.