The scam isn’t limited to DIA, with TikTok videos posted this month about similar phishing attempts – a cybercrime when 'someone posing as a legitimate institution to lure individuals into providing sensitive data such as personally identifiable information, banking and credit card details, and passwords,' according to software company KnowBe4 – related to Singapore Airlines. — Photo by Ante Hamersmit on Unsplash
The Denver International Airport warns that a new Facebook page by the name of Dеnvеr Airроrt claiming to sell lost luggage for US$10 (RM46) is “in no way affiliated” with it.
The Facebook page, which identifies itself as a thrift and consignment store, is unexpectedly popping up on users’ feeds as a sponsored advertisement. In its only post published on Wednesday (Dec 27) around 7am, the business encourages users to “get a suіtcase with baggage for just US$9.95 (RM45),” alleging that the luggage has sat in storage at DIA for more than six months.
“That account is in no way affiliated with DEN,” an airport spokesperson said on Thursday (Dec 28) morning.
They recommended contacting individual airlines to understand their baggage policies about how long luggage is held. “Those decisions are made by them and not the airport,” the representative said.
“Is it true?”
On the Dеnvеr Airроrt Facebook post, a user named Dale Collins commented, “Who tried to order? Is it true?” Four users posted photos of filled suitcases in the comments of the original post, claiming to have received them from the business.
A user named Lucas Hamm – whose public posts only date back one week ago and almost entirely involve reposting airline carriers’ accounts – described the supposed process: “I just followed the link, answered 3 questions, and managed to guess the box correctly on my second attempt; after that, I filled in a short form and paid 10 dollars. Later received an email confirmation and indicated the delivery address.”
Although the page only uploaded its profile picture around 7am MST on Wednesday, it seemingly earned more than 1,100 reviews in that time, giving it an almost five-star rating. That stood in stark contrast to its number of page likes - a measly seven.
An attempt to reach the Denver Airport business via its associated email was unsuccessful as it bounced back. After trying the linked phone number for further comment, it takes callers to a line offering “zero-cost health insurance covered by the Affordable Care Act,” then connects them with an automated representative who touts a promotion for a free medical alert device.
Similar scams related to Singapore Airlines
The scam isn’t limited to DIA, with TikTok videos posted this month about similar phishing attempts – a cybercrime when “someone posing as a legitimate institution to lure individuals into providing sensitive data such as personally identifiable information, banking and credit card details, and passwords,” according to software company KnowBe4 – related to Singapore Airlines.
The Federal Trade Commission reported US$2.7bil (RM12.40bil) in fraud losses via social media from January 2021 through June 2023.
“The most frequently reported fraud loss in the first half of 2023 was from people who tried to buy something marketed on social media” - typically undelivered goods, without the purchased clothing or electronics, according to the agency.
The most often reported origin of the scams? Facebook and Instagram advertisements. – The Denver Post/Tribune News Service
