A California family claims they got scammed attempting to escape the Maui wildfires, costing them $3,400 in airfare.
Megan and Kevin Morgan were celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary on the island with their 8-month-old after they decided to cancel their celebratory dinner and return home to the Sacramento area — shortly before the devastating blaze destroyed the restaurant that held their reservation.
“We’re sort of like, ‘Let’s just make the decision.’ With the child, it’s an excessive amount of to be over there,” Megan told CBS13 Sacramento on Wednesday.
Megan said she called a Southwest Airlines help number she found via Google to vary their flight.
“After which [the person who answered the phone] says, it’s going to be like $200 or something to vary,” Megan shared. “And I’m like, ‘No, no, no, there shouldn’t be change fees. That is Southwest.’ And he says, on the phone, ‘I’ve told you 4 times now, that is how much it costs if you wish to change it.’”
Megan said she didn’t give a bank card number and hung up immediately — but she had apparently provided enough information to get scammed.
She received a message on her Southwest account saying her reservation for her flight home was canceled, which led her to comprehend she must’ve called a scammer, not the airline.
The scammer was in a position to cancel the family’s flight home and use the credits to book a flight for another person — using just the Morgans’ names and confirmation numbers.
“I’ve never heard of this. I’ve never heard of this scam. I’m pretty aware of certain, you realize, alternative ways individuals are scamming other people, but I actually have never heard of this and it’s obviously very sophisticated,” Megan said.
The couple said they were forced to remain on the island an additional two days and pay $3,400 for a Hawaiian Airlines flight home.
Nevertheless, the Morgans don’t see themselves as victims.
Not going to dinner at Kimo’s Restaurant on Lahaina’s Front Street — where cars were torched and dozens died — saved their lives, in any case.
“You simply consider how scary that will need to have been, and I cannot imagine what that will be like having a baby with you and attempting to figure your way out,” Megan said.
Typically, a change to a Southwest flight is confirmed via email, but Megan says she didn’t receive one, and flight credits are often given to the passenger of the unique flight.
Megan believes the one who got the flight along with her credits might need been scammed as well, as a part of some type of shell game.
Southwest said in a press release to CBS13 that the airline is “disheartened to learn that a customer was taken advantage of by someone impersonating one in all our employees.”
The statement continued: “Our customer engagement team is in contact with the client to learn more in addition to offer assistance, and we’re investigating the matter internally.”
Last week’s Maui catastrophe has already claimed a minimum of 111 lives, with lots of of individuals still unaccounted for.
Residents, tourists and pets have been dramatically affected by the blaze, with many in need of urgent assistance and support.
