Airline Ticket Scams Explained By a NY Fraud Lawyer
Airline tickets can be expensive, and many people are continually looking for deals or cheap options for flying. This provides the opportunity for ticket scams to occur. Ticket scams involve any attempt to obtain personal financial information or to obtain money or assets by making false or misleading statements about airline tickets. These scams are usually perpetrated over the Internet, but can also occur over the phone as part of telemarketing scams or can be perpetrated using traditional classified ads or travel publications.
The federal government may become involved in investigating airline ticket scams, and defendants accused of airline ticket fraud could find themselves facing charges for serious federal offenses. Travel Fraud crimes , including ticket scams, are also illegal under state law so defendants could be prosecuted by a state district attorney as well as by federal authorities.
If you are accused of involvement with ticket fraud, you should not wait until charges are actually filed- you should get help right away. An experienced NYC fraud lawyer can assist you in protecting your rights, trying to avoid charges, seeking to get charges dropped, or determining how best to respond when you have actually been arrested or indicted.
Whether you want to negotiate a plea agreement after an accusation of fraud or you want to avoid a conviction altogether by building a defense strategy, Bukh Law Firm, PLLC is here to help you. We have unparalleled experience representing clients who have been accused of organizing or participating in all types of travel scams and we can bring that experience to your case.
What is Airline Ticket Fraud
Airline ticket fraud can take different forms. Common examples include:
- The purchase of airline tickets with a stolen credit card. Once a confirmation number is obtained, the scam involves trying to resell the ticket and providing the confirmation number for proof. Purchasers transfer money for what they believe is a legitimate ticket, but then when they try to fly they are told that the ticket is invalid because it was purchased with a stolen card. In some cases, the person who fell for the scam actually ends up arrested for trying to use the ticket purchased with the stolen card.
- Free ticket scams. “Free” tickets are offered online, via phone, via fax, or via mail. The names of legitimate airlines are used and the mailers or ads look like official mailers. The goal is to obtain private personal information to use in identity theft, or to get people to pay a small “processing” fee for these free tickets… which of course do not actually exist.
- Discount travel vouchers. Discount travel vouchers are also very similar to the fake free tickets. The goal is to get people to give up their money or their information. In some past cases, consumers have also been enticed into attending high-pressure sales presentations by false promises of discount vouchers.
- Travel sweepstakes. Consumers are told they have won a contest and will be getting free airline tickets. They may be told they have to pay a processing fee or provide personal information to get the tickets. Consumers also sometimes download their “free tickets,” which turn out to be malware.
These are some of the most common types of airline ticket scams, but there are also others as well. Making false promises or material misleading statements in connection with airline tickets can often result in charges.
Getting Help from a NYC Ticket Fraud Lawyer
Bukh Law Firm, PLLC provides legal representation to anyone accused of taking part in an airline ticket fraud scheme. No matter how minor your role in the scam, you could face serious penalties for travel fraud if convicted. You need to make smart choices, including getting help fighting charges or negotiating a favorable plea deal. Give us a call today to speak with a NYC defense attorney to learn more about how we can help you.
