Description

I am writing to file a formal complaint against EarnFlight, a company operating through the website https://earnflight.com . I believe I was defrauded by this business after calling a phone number I found online which appeared to be associated with Ethiopian Airlines. On November 15, I searched online for the customer service number for Ethiopian Airlines to confirm a round-trip ticket I had purchased six months ago. I called a number that appeared under Ethiopian Airlines’ listings and spoke with a person who identified himself as a representative of "Ethiopian Airline." He claimed that my booking was “pending” and needed confirmation, and insisted that I provide my debit card information. He assured me that my card would not be charged, and that this was only a formality. However, shortly after providing my card information, I checked my bank account and discovered an unauthorized charge of $737 from a merchant listed as EarnFlight. I immediately called the same number back, and was told that the only way to cancel the charge would be to pay for an "upgrade" first. I firmly refused to provide any further payment information and stated that I would report this incident to the Better Business Bureau. At that point, the representative hung up the phone. I then contacted Bank of America, who immediately closed my card, began the process of disputing the charge, and issued me a new card. In researching further, I discovered that EarnFlight operates a website signed with HTTPS — typically a sign of security — yet their practices are deceptive and fraudulent. I am submitting this complaint to ask for your assistance in investigating this company. I hope that by reporting my experience, others can be protected from falling into the same trap. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely,