Police Warn of Flight Ticket Scams After Man Loses Nearly 300,000 Yuan

Chinese police have issued a warning regarding a surge in flight ticket scams targeting consumers looking for deals. The Haidian branch of the Beijing Public Security Bureau is investigating a case where a man was defrauded of nearly 300,000 yuan while attempting to purchase discounted airline tickets. The victim reported that he had verified his flight details through an official platform, yet still fell victim to the scheme.

Investigators discovered that the booked tickets were in a "unpaid" status. The scammers had merely reserved seats using the victim's information to create a false impression of a confirmed booking. They then instructed the victim to download a specific communication application and enable screen sharing, subsequently guiding him to transfer funds to an account provided by the scammers. The victim ultimately lost over 290,000 yuan.

According to police, these scams often originate on secondary marketplaces advertising "special," "internal," or "employee" tickets at significantly low prices. The perpetrators exploit consumers' desire to save money and fear of missing out on deals. Initial small deposits are taken, followed by demands for further transfers under various pretexts such as "transaction failure" or "account freeze."

Authorities emphasize that legitimate airlines do not request bank card numbers, verification codes, or instruct passengers to download unknown applications or share their screens. Consumers are urged to use only official channels for ticket purchases and verify any suspicious information directly with the airline. The national anti-fraud hotline, 96110, is available for consultation and reporting.