Description

On April 12, 2026, our scheduled international travel was disrupted due to a labor strike involving Lufthansa, resulting in the cancellation of our flight. In an effort to obtain legitimate travel assistance, we conducted an online search for Expedia customer service. During that search, the telephone number 1-888-489-2084 appeared prominently and represented itself as an Expedia customer support number. Upon calling the number, we expressly asked whether we had reached Expedia customer service and were affirmatively advised that we had. The individual on the call subsequently requested that we provide a security verification code transmitted to our registered Expedia email account. Because the verification email originated from Expedia’s legitimate system, we reasonably believed that we were communicating with an authorized Expedia representative acting within the scope of legitimate customer service operations. Relying on those representations, we disclosed the verification code. The caller then informed us that replacement airline tickets could be reissued upon payment of an additional fare difference in the amount of $397 per passenger for four travelers. Based upon the caller’s false representation of authority and apparent access to our Expedia reservation information, we reasonably relied upon these representations and authorized payment. No replacement tickets were ever issued. The following morning, after discovering that no valid ticket confirmations or itineraries had been provided, we made repeated attempts to contact the same number without success. We thereafter located the legitimate Expedia customer service department and spoke with an actual Expedia representative, who informed us that we had been victims of a scam. The Expedia representative specifically confirmed that: Expedia personnel do not request customer security verification codes; and Expedia does not conduct ticket reissuance through unofficial payment demands of the type made by the impersonator. Immediately after learning of the fraudulent nature of the transaction, we contacted Bank of America and initiated a fraud dispute concerning the unauthorized charges. Later, the scammer submitted a load of printouts from our original itinerary (issued by Expedia) to our bank to fight the dispute. The overwhelming information convinced the bank to decline our dispute request.