Points going to fake account instead of Velocity

[grubbidok]

This may be relevant for posting elsewhere, but I thought I'd put here as it relates to a VA points claim. Earlier this year I flew BNE-SIN-BLR return on Singapore for a work trip. The flights were organised by the Indian university. At check-in in Brisbane I presented my Velocity account and asked them to attach it to the booking. No problems it seemed, done. After not receiving points for some months I contacted Velocity, who to their credit were immensely helpful and spent weeks trying to investigate.

However, after looking into it the Velocity rep tells me that SQ are adamant that the points have already been transferred to an Air India Flying Returns account in my name, and this activity has been confirmed by Air India. SQ therefore won't credit my VA account. Fair enough if I had one. But I've never opened an Air India account, have never been contacted by Air India and have never even flown Air India. Someone appears to have set up an account using my details. The Velocity rep seems to think there is nothing I can do except contact SQ.

This is all a little bit dodgy and makes me feel uneasy. I would have loved the points (and still would!), as they were mine and they would have thrown me into Gold with the next few flights I have planned. However, even more concerning is the stolen identity issue. Has this ever happened to anyone else, does anyone have any tips to rectify this? Who knows what else they're doing in my name?

 

[markis10]

The flights were organised by the Indian university.

I think you have your starting point, if they do this often and the program allows points transfers it would be a good earner for someone and unlikely to be of further issue for you.

 

[medhead]

Can you contact air india about your account being hijacked.

If you were really vindictive you could report the matter to the university ethical standards committee or something like that. I assume the person doing the booking created the account and has harvested the points.


Sent from the Throne

 

[robd]

Book some flights with the points???

 

[grubbidok]

I think you have your starting point, if they do this often and the program allows points transfers it would be a good earner for someone and unlikely to be of further issue for you.

Yes I think so too, but I've asked Air India for a please explain and the account contact details before I start making accusations

 

[grubbidok]

Book some flights with the points???

I don't actually know any of the account details. I've asked Air India for access to 'my' account

 

[simongr]

Can you contact air india about your account being hijacked.

If you were really vindictive you could report the matter to the university ethical standards committee or something like that. I assume the person doing the booking created the account and has harvested the points.

Sent from the Throne

Air India would be my starting point too. The only problem that I think you will have will be you wont be able to prove that you are the grubbidok. They will generally ask for personal information such as date of birth, address etc. and you wont have the information to prove that the account is fraudulent.

I also think reporting it to the Uni would be useful as well - just to put them on notice.

It is a clever scam as you have a relationship with SQ so they know who you are but you have no relationship with Air India so they have no real information about who travelled on SQ and SQ probably can't release the information due privacy restrictions.

I guess what you need is to get SQ to confirm that you are the traveller (by reference to your passport info I would suggest) and then get Air India to reverse the points back to SQ and then get VA/DJ to credit the points. Not knowing your class of travel or status I can't advise whether it is worth the effort.

 

[williamsf1]

I have heard of airline staff creating fake FFP accounts in the same name as the traveller when the traveller is not a member of a FFP. The points are then “transferred” over ( family transfer style) to one account and happy flying!!

 

[grubbidok]

I have heard of airline staff creating fake FFP accounts in the same name as the traveller when the traveller is not a member of a FFP. The points are then “transferred” over ( family transfer style) to one account and happy flying!!

The most interesting thing is that the check-in staff assured me that there had been no problems attaching my Velocity number to the booking. Weird.

 

[medhead]

Of course, that you took the SQ flight is good proof that the air India account is fraudulent. If you can get SQ to talk to Air India.


Sent from the Throne

 

[bullerdude]

Wow... I have never heard of this happening :shock:

Perhaps one of these options might work:

1. Call velocity and ask to speak to a supervisor in the Brisbane call centre - If you lucky they might put you through after you explain what has happened
2. Failing that, perhaps you could visit the nearest SQ office to speak to a real person who might be able to get you in contact with the right people
3. Failing that, send a message to VA on facebook explaining your situation. I have found the social media team very responsive and helpful

 

[dandandan]

Would there be a possibility the person who organised the flights from the Indian University was just being thoughtful and set up a Flying Returns account for you. If they booked the flights they would have had all your details to create an account.

This may be relevant for posting elsewhere, but I thought I'd put here as it relates to a VA points claim. Earlier this year I flew BNE-SIN-BLR return on Singapore for a work trip. The flights were organised by the Indian university. At check-in in Brisbane I presented my Velocity account and asked them to attach it to the booking. No problems it seemed, done. After not receiving points for some months I contacted Velocity, who to their credit were immensely helpful and spent weeks trying to investigate.

However, after looking into it the Velocity rep tells me that SQ are adamant that the points have already been transferred to an Air India Flying Returns account in my name, and this activity has been confirmed by Air India. SQ therefore won't credit my VA account. Fair enough if I had one. But I've never opened an Air India account, have never been contacted by Air India and have never even flown Air India. Someone appears to have set up an account using my details. The Velocity rep seems to think there is nothing I can do except contact SQ.

This is all a little bit dodgy and makes me feel uneasy. I would have loved the points (and still would!), as they were mine and they would have thrown me into Gold with the next few flights I have planned. However, even more concerning is the stolen identity issue. Has this ever happened to anyone else, does anyone have any tips to rectify this? Who knows what else they're doing in my name?

 

[grubbidok]

Thought I'd update as I'm pretty happy how it turned out.

Virgin rep did all they could - including calling me to provide weekly updates - but were told by SQ that I had to make a complaint myself, as they could not act on my behalf and gave me contact details. Did so and SQ rep contacted me and gave fake Air India account details and suggested I notify Air India the account is not mine, so they could. Did so and received email from SQ a few days saying Air India had agreed to close the account and re-credit the points to SQ (even though the fake account holder had already used them for two flights), who would pass them to Virgin. Virgin rep rang to say they were in my account within a week.

All around a pretty good effort from all airlines I thought. Not that much work involved either (just a few emails and phone calls). May not have been worth it for the points, but the 200 SCs were very useful to keep status!

 

[markis10]

Thanks for the update, we often don't hear the outcome, it's better when it's a good one!

 

[TonyHancock]

Excellent outcome, thanks for keeping us updated.

 

[v8Statesman]

Air India had agreed to close the account and re-credit the points to SQ (even though the fake account holder had already used them for two flights)

Are they prosecuting the identity thief? Given they have flown, I'm sure they aren't hard to track down.

 

[grubbidok]

Are they prosecuting the identity thief? Given they have flown, I'm sure they aren't hard to track down.

I assume so. Air India said they were reviewing it with that in mind. It turned out it was the travel agent for the university

 

[shearsense]

I assume so. Air India said they were reviewing it with that in mind. It turned out it was the travel agent for the university

Quite an amazing story. One wonders how big a scam you have just revealed (assuming the agent was responsible for a significant proportion of the university flight bookings)? He/she is probably regretting making your booking

 

[Aussie_flyer]

This is not an uncommon practice. Think of how many people have no idea about FF programs and never credit their flights to any program.

 

[shearsense]

This is not an uncommon practice. Think of how many people have no idea about FF programs and never credit their flights to any program.

I guess so. But I've never heard or thought about it previously. Plenty of scope for an unethical TA to do this, but I would be surprised if it is not uncommon. I learn something new every day!