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DO not Google airline numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n getty<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Just ahead of the summer holiday season in North America and Europe, there are serious new warnings for travelers as criminals target citizens while abroad. This is more acute than usual, because \u201cgeopolitical turmoil is a gift for scammers.\u201d<\/p>\n The team at ESET<\/a> warns that \u201cmilitary conflict can often result in sudden flight cancellations, border checks and other travel-related disruption.\u201d All of which open the door to attacks. \u201cScammers can take advantage of this by impersonating airlines and government agencies.\u201d And when you\u2019re away, that\u2019s much higher risk.<\/p>\n DO not Google airline numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n getty<\/small><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Consumer Affairs<\/a> warns that \u201cscammers rely on urgency (your flight is changing, act now), trust (it looks like a real airline phone number), convenience (you just click the first result).\u201d But there\u2019s one thing you can do to help stay safe.<\/p>\n \u201cNever Google airline phone numbers in a rush,\u201d the consumer advocacy website says. \u201cSponsored search results can be fake. Instead, do this: Use the airline\u2019s official app. Go directly to the airline\u2019s website (type it in yourself). Save customer service phone numbers in your phone ahead of trips.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s even more critical now than ever before. \u201cWith AI and better fake websites, it\u2019s getting harder to tell what\u2019s real.\u201d There are many ways scammers can trick you into calling their fake or spoofed numbers. Poisoning SEO results in one. But there are plenty of other ways to lure victims<\/a> while they\u2019re on holiday.<\/p>\n \u201cBe cautious of social media accounts,\u201d ESET says, \u201cespecially those that appear to be customer service accounts for airlines and the like. These are easier than you\u2019d think to set up and platform providers are always a step behind in taking them down.\u201d Do not search for your airline\u2019s services desk on social media.<\/p>\n Whichever airline and hotel you\u2019re using, save the numbers in a note on your phone before you travel. That way, you have easy and immediate access to numbers you need when\/if you need them. But even if you do this, the usual rules apply.<\/p>\n Forbes<\/span>Samsung Warns Galaxy Users\u2014Delete \u2018High Risk Apps\u2019<\/span>By Zak Doffman<\/span><\/small><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt goes without saying that you should never hand over sensitive information over the phone,\u201d ESET says. And that means voice calls, emails or text messages.<\/p>\n Consumer Affairs also says you should \u201cknow what airlines actually charge,\u201d in case you need to make a change. \u201cHuge fees for basic changes (and pressure to pay immediately\u201d are a \u201cmajor red flag.\u201d As are demands for extortionate fees.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n