Etihad Airways Warns Travellers of Fake Social Media Accounts Impersonating the Airline

Etihad Airways has issued a formal warning to passengers and the travelling public to be vigilant after discovering an uptick in fraudulent social media accounts posing as official airline profiles. The airline said that impostor accounts have been contacting travellers with false offers, fake promotions, and misleading customer service messages — all designed to harvest personal data or scam unsuspecting users.
According to Etihad’s corporate communications team, the fake accounts have appeared across platforms including Meta Platforms’s Facebook and Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and messaging apps that support business‑style profiles. Some of the fraudulent pages closely mimic the airline’s official branding, using logos, flight images, and airline livery in an effort to appear legitimate.
“Fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated in their impersonation tactics,” said a spokesperson for Etihad Airways. “These fake accounts can mislead customers into sharing sensitive information, clicking harmful links, or even paying for services that do not exist. We are actively working with social media platforms to report and remove these accounts, but we also urge passengers to be cautious and ensure they’re interacting with official Etihad channels.”
How the Scams Work
The airline has identified several common patterns used by the fraudulent profiles:
Fake Promotions or Contests: Users are told they’ve won free flights, upgrades, or lounge passes, but must first provide personal details or pay a processing fee.
Phony Customer Support: Accounts pose as “official customer care” and request booking references, passport numbers, or payments to resolve a supposed issue with a flight.
Malicious Links: Messages contain links that lead to phishing websites designed to capture login credentials, financial information, or other personal data.
Etihad officials warn that once data is captured, it can be used for identity theft, financial fraud, or other phishing attacks. “A legitimate airline will never ask customers to pay fees or provide sensitive information through unsolicited social media private messages,” the airline stated.
Recognising Official Etihad Accounts
To help travellers distinguish real accounts from fake ones, Etihad provided guidelines on how to identify official social media handles:
Official accounts carry the verified badge — a blue tick next to the profile name — on major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Handles should match those listed on Etihad’s official website.
Official customer service responses will generally direct users to dedicated support channels, including the airline’s website or verified support portals, not private messages from unknown accounts.
The airline also reminded customers that booking confirmations, itinerary changes, and flight updates should always come from official email addresses ending in @etihad.ae or verified SMS short codes, rather than social media direct messages.
Industry‑Wide Challenge
Etihad is not alone in facing impersonation and scam challenges; major airlines globally have issued similar warnings in recent years. As digital communications have become essential to customer engagement, fraudsters have shifted their tactics to exploit travellers’ reliance on social media and mobile messaging. According to cybersecurity experts, the increased volume of online travel bookings during the post‑pandemic recovery has presented opportunities for malicious actors to disguise themselves within customer service‑style interactions.
“The pandemic accelerated digital transformation across the travel industry,” said a cybercrime analyst. “But it also created a fertile environment for scams targeting travellers who may already be stressed about disruptions, delays, or cost increases.”
Social media companies have responded with tools for reporting impersonation and fraud, but critics say enforcement can lag behind the speed at which fake accounts are created and proliferate.
Government and Regulatory Involvement
In the UAE, authorities have taken a firm stance against online fraud and cybercrime more broadly. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority and law enforcement agencies actively monitor digital platforms for fraudulent activity, and scams targeting residents and visitors alike can result in significant penalties for perpetrators under UAE cybercrime laws.
Etihad has reported multiple fake accounts to platform administrators and law enforcement, but the airline emphasises that traveller vigilance is also crucial. “Our priority is the safety and peace of mind of our customers,” the airline spokesperson said. “We encourage anyone who encounters a suspicious account claiming to be Etihad to report it immediately, and to double‑check communication sources before engaging.”
What Travellers Should Do
Etihad’s safety checklist for travellers includes:
Follow only verified social media accounts with official badges.
Avoid responding to unsolicited private messages about bookings.
Never click on links from unknown senders or provide login or payment details.
Contact Etihad directly through official channels if in doubt.
As travel demand continues to recover and evolve, Etihad’s warning serves as a reminder that digital safety is an essential part of modern travel planning. By staying alert and informed, passengers can protect themselves against scams that seek to exploit trust in one of the world’s leading airlines.