A North Vancouver woman lost $6,000 after scammers impersonated airline customer support accounts on social media while her family was urgently trying to deal with a cancelled flight. The scam involved fake social media replies, WhatsApp calls, refund promises, and money transfers through payment platforms.

A Canadian woman is warning others after losing $6,000 in a customer support scam that began while her family was urgently trying to resolve a cancelled international flight.

The North Vancouver woman, identified by Daily Hive using the pseudonym Marzieh Asgari, said the ordeal began when her father was preparing to travel from Iran to Canada for Nowruz, the Persian New Year. His first flight leg, from Tehran to Turkey, was cancelled, leaving the family trying to recover money or change travel plans during a stressful situation.

After the airline declined to provide a refund because the ticket was not refundable, Asgari reached out to Turkish Airlines through social media to see whether the second airline involved in the trip could help.

That public request made her a target.

Asgari posted on X and commented on Turkish Airlines’ Instagram page. Soon afterward, she received replies from accounts that appeared to be connected to airline customer service. Some accounts displayed check marks, making them look official. One fake account also commented that it had contacted her through other social media channels.

Believing she was dealing with legitimate support, Asgari provided her WhatsApp number, email address, and full name. She and her sister were hopeful that the person contacting them could help recover a significant portion of their father’s travel costs.

The scammer then called through WhatsApp and asked for her father’s name and flight number. According to Asgari, the caller claimed that because of the situation, the refund would have to be processed through an application.

From there, the scam shifted from customer service impersonation to payment manipulation. The scammer asked her to download apps, create accounts, and enter numbers that were described as codes. In reality, those numbers were money amounts.

Asgari became suspicious, but the scammer used the urgency of the cancelled flight and the family’s distress to keep the conversation going. The caller also claimed there was no other way to send money because of the situation in Iran. Background noise resembling other call centre agents made the interaction seem more credible.

The scammer first directed her toward Remitly, then Lemfi, and used other payment channels as the scheme unfolded. When one payment method did not work, the scammer pushed her to connect directly to her bank account rather than use Apple Pay.

Asgari began to realize something was wrong when she saw money moving out of her account and received warning codes from BMO advising her not to share them. She also messaged the real Turkish Airlines Instagram page and asked whether the person she was speaking with represented the company.

The scammer eventually made a mistake, referring to “Qatar Airlines” instead of Turkish Airlines. Around the same time, the real airline account confirmed that the person was not affiliated with them.

By then, several payments had already gone through. In total, Asgari lost $6,000.

The aftermath was also difficult. Asgari reported that she was passed between financial institutions and payment platforms while trying to recover the money. She said some representatives told her the transactions were not refundable because she had authorized them, while others suggested another company should have stopped the transfers.

The scam involved several platforms, including Lemfi, WorldRemit, and Remitly, with transactions connected to her BMO and RBC accounts. Lemfi returned money to her BMO account. Daily Hive later reported that RBC reached out and offered a full refund as an exception after reviewing the situation.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre told Daily Hive that fraudsters are increasingly impersonating airlines through social media platforms, sponsored advertisements, and manipulated search results. These scams often use copied branding, official-looking logos, urgent messages, and fake support accounts to trick people into sharing personal information or sending money.

This type of fraud falls under the broader category of service fraud. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported that service fraud caused nearly $20 million in reported losses in 2025, although the true figure is likely higher because many victims do not report.

The case shows how scammers exploit moments of stress. Asgari was not searching for an investment opportunity or responding to an obvious prize offer. She was trying to help her father during an urgent travel problem. Fraudsters used that vulnerability, combined with fake social media accounts and pressure tactics, to make the scam appear legitimate.

Consumer fraud experts warn that anyone seeking customer support through social media should be careful when contacted by accounts claiming to represent airlines, banks, travel companies, or other major brands. Scammers often monitor public complaints and immediately reply as if they are official support representatives.

Consumers should avoid providing personal details through public replies or direct messages unless they have independently verified the account. They should also avoid downloading apps, sharing verification codes, or sending money to receive a refund.

Refunds from legitimate airlines or companies should not require customers to send money first, move funds through a third-party app, or provide banking access through a messaging platform.

Asgari said she wants others to report similar scams, even if they feel embarrassed. She said reporting can help prevent others from going through the same experience.

The post Canadian Woman Loses $6K in Airline Customer Support Scam appeared first on Canadian Fraud News Inc. | Fraud related news | Fraud in Canada.

Originally published on Canadian Fraud News.