Why you should never Google your airline's phone number: 'Huge red flags'

It's a simple act which could see you scammed of thousands of dollars.Experts have warned against going online and Googling your airline's phone number if you want to contact them.That's because of multiple scams being reported relating to fake contact details for the company Aussies booked their flight with.READ MORE: Here are all the best places to stay in Phuket, depending on what vibe you're afterREAD MORE: The best beaches in the world for nudists have been revealedMark Trim, founder and managing director of RoundAbout Travel said they've heard about people losing money after falling for it.It often happens when people come upon an issue and quickly decide to google and call the airline."Third parties are now bidding on these keywords to appear at the top of search results and appearing to be airline contact centre staff," Trim said."They are in fact masking that they work for the airline, accessing the booking details and overcharging by thousands."We've even had people be conned into thinking their confirmed reservations are on a 'waitlist' and that they need to pay to get uploaded, when their booking was absolutely fine."Victims are not actually calling the airline but a scam number that looks right. Sometimes numbers can be only one digit different. The scammer is then able to glean information from the client.They then use it to pretend there are issues with their ticket - and they'll need to pay extra to fix that.READ MORE: Eight in ten Aussies are making this common travel mistake that could cost you thousandsScammers can even update Google maps listings or make up fake websites or businesses which sound very similar to the real ones, Trim warned."There are huge red flags but they prey on people in stressful situations," Trim said.Trim warned to look out for signs you've been fooled into calling the wrong number,These include being told you are on a waiting list and need to pay an additional fee to confirm your tickets.READ MORE: The 'one thing' you have to do in Paris, according to Catriona RowntreeOther scams include being told you can only buy a one way ticket to not impact the rest of your travel or that one of your family's tickets is not confirmed so you need to pay for them now or the whole trip will be cancelled.The best way to avoid falling victim is to double check the website and number, look out for emails that don't look legitimate.The best way to find contact numbers is to double check the name of the company and phone number from your eTickets before calling."Once on the phone if you are not sure then ask them lots of questions to confirm or call back again to double check," Trim said.READ MORE: Aussies will be able to stay in Thailand for longer with new visa rules