Latest news with #JeffRichardson
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
He thought he was calling Air Canada. The airline says it wasn't them
A Stellarton, N.S., man says he was baffled when he discovered his $2,000 non-refundable airline ticket to Texas was cancelled. He was even more baffled when he reached out to Air Canada, only to be told the airline's records showed that the cancellation had been made online and that they were unable to give him a refund, as per the fare rules of his ticket. "Every dollar counts," said Jeff Richardson. "We're living paycheque to paycheque, and $2,000 is a lot of money." After seven months of back and forth, Air Canada said this week they will refund Richardson's ticket. Richardson says he welcomes the refund, but remains frustrated with the long wait for a resolution. Richardson booked his flight on Oct. 22 directly through the Air Canada website. He says he was having trouble selecting his seat online, so he called the airline for assistance. He says he found a number online for Air Canada starting with 1-833, and spoke to a representative who said they worked for Air Canada. Richardson believed he was talking to the airline when he shared details about his booking and credit card information to reserve seats. However, in a statement to CBC News, Air Canada says the number is not theirs. That same day, he received a charge on his credit card of more than $200 from something called "AirReservation," which is not affiliated with Air Canada. Shortly after, he was alerted that his ticket had been cancelled. When he called the number back to complain, he says the line seemed to be busy. Air Canada says it's possible that whoever was posing as the airline could have obtained enough personal information from the customer to cancel the flight. "Based on these findings, we will reimburse this customer and ensure he pays the original price quoted for a replacement ticket," said the airline. "This could serve as a cautionary tale that people should be careful to make sure they know who they are dealing with in online or telephone transactions and only use certified and official sources of information." CBC News called the number in question on June 10, and the person who answered identified herself as a representative of Air Canada. The person said they could cancel tickets for a fee and assist with arranging seating. Richardson says he remembers taking the number from the Air Canada website. It's not clear what happened, but he may have fallen victim to a spoofing attack, when a fraudster creates a copy of a website to make it appear authentic while adding false information to mislead or scam customers. The fake website could turn up in search engine results or have a URL that is similar to the real website. Richardson says that he asked Air Canada to provide the IP address of the device used to cancel the booking through a request under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). The record showed that the device that cancelled the ticket online was tied to an IP address in India. Nur Zincir-Heywood, a Halifax-based cybersecurity expert, said the IP address can also be spoofed, meaning it can be modified to appear from a different location. So it does not necessarily mean that whoever cancelled the ticket is really in India. This makes it harder to pinpoint where the scammers are and hold them to account. "I can understand and really have empathy for the customer here because we could be in the same shoes," she said. In the end, Richardson ended up booking another flight and went to Texas in November for a work conference. He says he will be extra careful from now on to ensure he is using the legitimate website and contact information for a company. Gábor Lukács, founder of advocacy group Air Passenger Rights, says it should still not be all up to the client to protect themselves. He said Air Canada should take an active role in fighting these kinds of fraud. "Air Canada is a large corporation. It is expected to operate a system that does not lend itself to fraud," he said, noting that adding a two-factor verification system to ticket modifications may help passengers remain protected. MORE STORIES
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
He thought he was calling Air Canada. The airline says it wasn't them
A Stellarton, N.S., man says he was baffled when he discovered his $2,000 non-refundable airline ticket to Texas was cancelled. He was even more baffled when he reached out to Air Canada, only to be told the airline's records showed that the cancellation had been made online and that they were unable to give him a refund, as per the fare rules of his ticket. "Every dollar counts," said Jeff Richardson. "We're living paycheque to paycheque, and $2,000 is a lot of money." After seven months of back and forth, Air Canada said this week they will refund Richardson's ticket. Richardson says he welcomes the refund, but remains frustrated with the long wait for a resolution. Richardson booked his flight on Oct. 22 directly through the Air Canada website. He says he was having trouble selecting his seat online, so he called the airline for assistance. He says he found a number online for Air Canada starting with 1-833, and spoke to a representative who said they worked for Air Canada. Richardson believed he was talking to the airline when he shared details about his booking and credit card information to reserve seats. However, in a statement to CBC News, Air Canada says the number is not theirs. That same day, he received a charge on his credit card of more than $200 from something called "AirReservation," which is not affiliated with Air Canada. Shortly after, he was alerted that his ticket had been cancelled. When he called the number back to complain, he says the line seemed to be busy. Air Canada says it's possible that whoever was posing as the airline could have obtained enough personal information from the customer to cancel the flight. "Based on these findings, we will reimburse this customer and ensure he pays the original price quoted for a replacement ticket," said the airline. "This could serve as a cautionary tale that people should be careful to make sure they know who they are dealing with in online or telephone transactions and only use certified and official sources of information." CBC News called the number in question on June 10, and the person who answered identified herself as a representative of Air Canada. The person said they could cancel tickets for a fee and assist with arranging seating. Richardson says he remembers taking the number from the Air Canada website. It's not clear what happened, but he may have fallen victim to a spoofing attack, when a fraudster creates a copy of a website to make it appear authentic while adding false information to mislead or scam customers. The fake website could turn up in search engine results or have a URL that is similar to the real website. Richardson says that he asked Air Canada to provide the IP address of the device used to cancel the booking through a request under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). The record showed that the device that cancelled the ticket online was tied to an IP address in India. Nur Zincir-Heywood, a Halifax-based cybersecurity expert, said the IP address can also be spoofed, meaning it can be modified to appear from a different location. So it does not necessarily mean that whoever cancelled the ticket is really in India. This makes it harder to pinpoint where the scammers are and hold them to account. "I can understand and really have empathy for the customer here because we could be in the same shoes," she said. In the end, Richardson ended up booking another flight and went to Texas in November for a work conference. He says he will be extra careful from now on to ensure he is using the legitimate website and contact information for a company. Gábor Lukács, founder of advocacy group Air Passenger Rights, says it should still not be all up to the client to protect themselves. He said Air Canada should take an active role in fighting these kinds of fraud. "Air Canada is a large corporation. It is expected to operate a system that does not lend itself to fraud," he said, noting that adding a two-factor verification system to ticket modifications may help passengers remain protected. MORE STORIES
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
He thought he was calling Air Canada. The airline says it wasn't them
A Stellarton, N.S., man says he was baffled when he discovered his $2,000 non-refundable airline ticket to Texas was cancelled. He was even more baffled when he reached out to Air Canada, only to be told the airline's records showed that the cancellation had been made online and that they were unable to give him a refund, as per the fare rules of his ticket. "Every dollar counts," said Jeff Richardson. "We're living paycheque to paycheque, and $2,000 is a lot of money." After seven months of back and forth, Air Canada said this week they will refund Richardson's ticket. Richardson says he welcomes the refund, but remains frustrated with the long wait for a resolution. Richardson booked his flight on Oct. 22 directly through the Air Canada website. He says he was having trouble selecting his seat online, so he called the airline for assistance. He says he found a number online for Air Canada starting with 1-833, and spoke to a representative who said they worked for Air Canada. Richardson believed he was talking to the airline when he shared details about his booking and credit card information to reserve seats. However, in a statement to CBC News, Air Canada says the number is not theirs. That same day, he received a charge on his credit card of more than $200 from something called "AirReservation," which is not affiliated with Air Canada. Shortly after, he was alerted that his ticket had been cancelled. When he called the number back to complain, he says the line seemed to be busy. Air Canada says it's possible that whoever was posing as the airline could have obtained enough personal information from the customer to cancel the flight. "Based on these findings, we will reimburse this customer and ensure he pays the original price quoted for a replacement ticket," said the airline. "This could serve as a cautionary tale that people should be careful to make sure they know who they are dealing with in online or telephone transactions and only use certified and official sources of information." CBC News called the number in question on June 10, and the person who answered identified herself as a representative of Air Canada. The person said they could cancel tickets for a fee and assist with arranging seating. Richardson says he remembers taking the number from the Air Canada website. It's not clear what happened, but he may have fallen victim to a spoofing attack, when a fraudster creates a copy of a website to make it appear authentic while adding false information to mislead or scam customers. The fake website could turn up in search engine results or have a URL that is similar to the real website. Richardson says that he asked Air Canada to provide the IP address of the device used to cancel the booking through a request under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). The record showed that the device that cancelled the ticket online was tied to an IP address in India. Nur Zincir-Heywood, a Halifax-based cybersecurity expert, said the IP address can also be spoofed, meaning it can be modified to appear from a different location. So it does not necessarily mean that whoever cancelled the ticket is really in India. This makes it harder to pinpoint where the scammers are and hold them to account. "I can understand and really have empathy for the customer here because we could be in the same shoes," she said. In the end, Richardson ended up booking another flight and went to Texas in November for a work conference. He says he will be extra careful from now on to ensure he is using the legitimate website and contact information for a company. Gábor Lukács, founder of advocacy group Air Passenger Rights, says it should still not be all up to the client to protect themselves. He said Air Canada should take an active role in fighting these kinds of fraud. "Air Canada is a large corporation. It is expected to operate a system that does not lend itself to fraud," he said, noting that adding a two-factor verification system to ticket modifications may help passengers remain protected. MORE STORIES
CBC
7 days ago
- Business
- CBC
He thought he was calling Air Canada. The airline says it wasn't them
Social Sharing A Stellarton, N.S., man says he was baffled when he discovered his $2,000 non-refundable airline ticket to Texas was cancelled. He was even more baffled when he reached out to Air Canada, only to be told the airline's records showed that the cancellation had been made online and that they were unable to give him a refund, as per the fare rules of his ticket. "Every dollar counts," said Jeff Richardson. "We're living paycheque to paycheque, and $2,000 is a lot of money." After seven months of back and forth, Air Canada said this week they will refund Richardson's ticket. Richardson says he welcomes the refund, but remains frustrated with the long wait for a resolution. What happened? Richardson booked his flight on Oct. 22 directly through the Air Canada website. He says he was having trouble selecting his seat online, so he called the airline for assistance. He says he found a number online for Air Canada starting with 1-833, and spoke to a representative who said they worked for Air Canada. Richardson believed he was talking to the airline when he shared details about his booking and credit card information to reserve seats. However, in a statement to CBC News, Air Canada says the number is not theirs. That same day, he received a charge on his credit card of more than $200 from something called "AirReservation," which is not affiliated with Air Canada. Shortly after, he was alerted that his ticket had been cancelled. When he called the number back to complain, he says the line seemed to be busy. 3 tips to keep yourself safe online 6 months ago Duration 3:31 During a busy season of online shopping, cyber criminals may be looking to get your information. The CBC's Angela MacIvor spoke to experts about how to keep yourself, your information and your money safe this holiday season. Air Canada says it's possible that whoever was posing as the airline could have obtained enough personal information from the customer to cancel the flight. "Based on these findings, we will reimburse this customer and ensure he pays the original price quoted for a replacement ticket," said the airline. "This could serve as a cautionary tale that people should be careful to make sure they know who they are dealing with in online or telephone transactions and only use certified and official sources of information." CBC News called the number in question on June 10, and the person who answered identified herself as a representative of Air Canada. The person said they could cancel tickets for a fee and assist with arranging seating. Richardson says he remembers taking the number from the Air Canada website. It's not clear what happened, but he may have fallen victim to a spoofing attack, when a fraudster creates a copy of a website to make it appear authentic while adding false information to mislead or scam customers. The fake website could turn up in search engine results or have a URL that is similar to the real website. IP address in India Richardson says that he asked Air Canada to provide the IP address of the device used to cancel the booking through a request under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). The record showed that the device that cancelled the ticket online was tied to an IP address in India. Nur Zincir-Heywood, a Halifax-based cybersecurity expert, said the IP address can also be spoofed, meaning it can be modified to appear from a different location. So it does not necessarily mean that whoever cancelled the ticket is really in India. This makes it harder to pinpoint where the scammers are and hold them to account. "I can understand and really have empathy for the customer here because we could be in the same shoes," she said. In the end, Richardson ended up booking another flight and went to Texas in November for a work conference. He says he will be extra careful from now on to ensure he is using the legitimate website and contact information for a company. Gábor Lukács, founder of advocacy group Air Passenger Rights, says it should still not be all up to the client to protect themselves. He said Air Canada should take an active role in fighting these kinds of fraud. "Air Canada is a large corporation. It is expected to operate a system that does not lend itself to fraud," he said, noting that adding a two-factor verification system to ticket modifications may help passengers remain protected.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Western Alliance Bank's and Digital Disbursements' Triangle of Fraud Protection Named as Innovation of the Year by American Banker
Digital Disbursements and ClaimScore Recognized in Annual Award's Cybersecurity and Fraud Category PHOENIX, May 19, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Western Alliance Bank's subsidiary Digital Disbursements, the leading digital payments platform for the class action legal industry and part of the bank's Juris Banking Group offering, today announced that their Anti-Fraud Triangle innovation, developed in partnership with ClaimScore, a data-driven fraud prevention software solution for class action settlements, has been selected as American Banker's Innovation of the Year in the Cybersecurity and Fraud category. The prestigious award recognizes 2024's most groundbreaking and influential technology-focused innovations, and the teams that brought them to life at banks, financial institutions and fintechs. The Anti-Fraud Triangle was developed in response to the 19,000% surge in fraudulent class action and mass tort claims, which skyrocketed from approximately 400,000 in 2021 to more than 80 million in 2023. The integrated platform combines the respective services offered by Digital Disbursements and ClaimScore, with the variety of tools offered by the particular settlement administrator in any given case to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. The integrated solution is far more effective than the sum of the individual components: in 2024 alone, the Anti-Fraud Triangle identified and prevented more than 800 million fraudulent claims. Had all of those claims been approved, the bad actors would have received well over $100 million in fraudulent payouts. "We are deeply honored by this recognition, which comes at a time when innovative fraud protection strategies are needed more than ever," said Digital Disbursements Founder and Co-CEO Jeff Richardson. "Thank you to American Banker and to our partners, who entrusted us with the implementation of a modern, claimant-first solution, which was made possible through our collaboration with ClaimScore. The Anti-Fraud Triangle has endless potential both within and outside the settlement space, and we will continue to capitalize on its innovative capabilities." Digital Disbursements and Western Alliance Bank recently released their third annual "Digital Payments in Class Actions and Mass Torts" report, which revealed that the number of claims with significant indicia of fraud in 2024 dropped for the first time on record after the dramatic increase between 2021 and 2023. About Western Alliance Bancorporation With more than $80 billion in assets, Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE: WAL) is one of the country's top-performing banking companies. Through its primary subsidiary, Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, clients benefit from a full spectrum of tailored commercial banking solutions and consumer products, all delivered with outstanding service by industry experts who put customers first. Major accolades include being ranked as a top U.S. bank in 2024 by American Banker and Bank Director and receiving #1 rankings on Extel's (previously Institutional Investor's) All-America Executive Team Midcap 2024 for Best CEO, Best CFO and Best Company Board of Directors. Serving clients across the country wherever business happens, Western Alliance Bank operates individual, full-service banking and financial brands with offices in key markets nationwide. For more information, visit Western Alliance Bancorporation. About Digital Disbursements A subsidiary of Western Alliance Bank, Digital Disbursements addresses the evolving payment needs of those in the legal, financial and other industries through its award-winning technology. The proprietary platform enables all types of payees, including those with claims from class actions, mass torts and bankruptcies, to choose how they would like to receive their payments, with options ranging from direct-to-bank accounts to popular digital wallets and credit cards. The benefits include improved deliverability, reduced cost and mitigated fraud, while also allowing the unbanked to receive their funds without high check-cashing fees. Digital Disbursements is part of Western Alliance Bancorporation, which has more than $80 billion in assets. To learn more, visit Western Alliance Bank's Digital Disbursements. About ClaimScore ClaimScore LLC is a technology company that offers AI-based claim validation software for class action settlements. Designed to provide a transparent and efficient approach to the claims process, ClaimScore's proprietary scoring system and real-time reporting stands as the gold standard in claim validation software. View source version on Contacts Media Contact:Stephanie Whitlow, SWhitlow@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
