‘DM your details’: Travellers warned of scam airline accounts as Iran war disrupts flights

Criminals exploiting Middle East crisis by targeting customers seeking help or refunds from affected carriers Your flight has been delayed as a result of the Middle East crisis and you want to find out what’s happening, so you go online for an answer. You find a social media account run by the airline you are booked with and post a question, and get a reply offering help. You’re asked to send a direct message with details, which seems reasonable. A conversation starts and you are told to give your phone number as you may be due compensation. This is where it all starts going wrong: instead of being given money, you have it taken. Although it looked official, the account that replied was a scam. Fake airline accounts are not new but scammers have leapt on the disruption caused by the Iran war to target people around the world, setting up scams in the names of the carriers most affected by the crisis. Santander says it has already heard from customers who were caught up in cancellations and delays – and then caught out by fraudsters. On the social media site X, customers say they have been contacted by accounts purporting to be run by the airlines Qatar Airways, Etihad and Emir