Travelers Targeted by Fake Flight Cancellation Texts in New Scam

NEW YORK — November 20, 2025 — Travelers across the country are being targeted by a new wave of fraudulent text messages falsely claiming that their flights have been canceled, officials said Wednesday. These deceptive communications are designed to trick recipients into providing sensitive personal data and credit card details.

According to authorities, the scam messages appear to come from legitimate airlines and inform passengers that their upcoming flights have been canceled or rescheduled. The texts typically include a link directing recipients to a fake website that closely mimics the airline’s official portal. Once on the site, victims are prompted to enter personal information, including names, addresses, passport numbers, and payment card details.

Cybersecurity experts warn that these fraudulent sites are highly convincing and can easily deceive travelers who are not vigilant. The stolen information is often used for identity theft, unauthorized financial transactions, or sold on the dark web.

Airlines have confirmed they are not sending these cancellation notices via text and urge customers to verify flight status only through official channels such as the airline’s website or mobile app. Some carriers have also begun alerting customers about the scam through email and social media posts.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a public advisory urging consumers to be cautious when receiving unexpected messages about travel plans. Officials recommend not clicking on links in unsolicited texts and instead contacting airlines directly using verified contact information.

Travel industry representatives emphasize the importance of maintaining cybersecurity awareness, especially as travel activity increases during peak seasons. They advise passengers to enable two-factor authentication on airline accounts and regularly monitor bank statements for suspicious charges.

Law enforcement agencies are investigating the origin of the scam texts, but the perpetrators remain unidentified. The scam is part of a broader trend of cybercriminals exploiting the travel sector, which has seen a rise in phishing and fraud attempts in recent years.

Experts suggest that travelers should also report suspicious messages to the airline involved and to the FTC to help authorities track and combat these scams.

The rise in such fraudulent schemes underscores the ongoing challenges in protecting consumers from cyber threats amid growing digital communication between companies and customers. As airlines continue to rely on text messaging for customer service, vigilance remains critical to safeguarding personal information.