‘Don’t call the number’: Qantas text scam

A warning has been issued for a new scam text message that attempts to bait Aussies with fake Qantas flights.

A new scam text message has begun circling, this time attempting to bait Australians with fake flights booked with Qantas.

The text — which has appeared on multiple Aussies’ phones in recent days — claims a flight has been booked by the target and encourages them to call back if they believe a mistake has been made.

It may read something like: “Qantas Airline ticket bought for flight O7MZ. If this was not you get in touch.”

Scammers can even manipulate their contact name, making the text appear more like it came from Qantas or from your bank.

A new scam has begun targeting Aussies. Picture: Scamwatch

The number, if called, puts the target through to a scammer looking to swindle them out of their hard-earned money.

The Australia Competition Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Scamwatch urged Aussies to beware of the ploy.

“Beware of text messages saying you have bought a ticket or made a purchase and asking you to click a link or call a number if it wasn‘t you,” Scamwatch said.

“This is a scam. Don’t call the number.”

Anyone who receives the message has been urged to report it to Scamwatch.

Qantas has provided an advice page to help avoid scammers. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Qantas has also provided a general advice page to teach Aussies how to avoid scammers posing as the airline.

“From time to time we are made aware … scams and social media posts that claim to be authentic Qantas communications,” the carrier said.

“Unfortunately scammers can change sender ID names which makes it confusing for the recipient to recognise when a legitimate message has been sent and when it is a scam. These messages – because of the sender ID name – can then be grouped with genuine messages with Qantas.

“We will never ask customers to click a link to download a file about bookings from a website, including our own. We send important documents that relate to your booking as Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files that you can download directly.”

Telstra recently became the first Aussie telco to allow its customers to “dob in” scammers, opening a ‘SCAM’ text line to report the pesky messages.

Customers of the telco can now forward suspicious text messages to a designated reporting number – 7226 (spelling ‘SCAM’ on the dial pad) – free of charge.

Telstra will then investigate the message and take appropriate action on behalf of the customer, including by reporting the message to relevant authorities.