917218248388: Qantas Frequent Flyer Points Impersonation SMS

• Scam

One contributor reports SMS scam from 917218248388 impersonating Qantas, claiming frequent flyer points about to expire with suspicious link. India-based number.

Qantas Impersonation SMS from 917218248388

A contributor has reported receiving an SMS from 917218248388 claiming to be from Qantas frequent flyer program. The message stated that frequent flyer points were about to expire and included a link to "redeem" them. This is a straightforward impersonation scam targeting Australian airline customers.

The red flags are immediate and obvious. The number 917218248388 uses a +91 area code, which is India-based, not Australia. Qantas would never contact customers from an international Indian phone number. The contributor who received this SMS from 917218248388 had not flown with Qantas for over 20 years and has no active frequent flyer account, making the urgency claim completely fabricated.

How Scammers Use 917218248388 to Target Australians

The SMS from 917218248388 follows a familiar impersonation pattern: create false urgency (points expiring), reference a legitimate Australian brand (Qantas), and include a malicious link designed to harvest credentials or install malware. The scammer is betting that some recipients will panic about losing loyalty points and click without thinking.

The use of an Indian phone number (917218248388) is particularly telling. Legitimate Australian companies use Australian phone numbers or clearly identifiable international numbers only when necessary. A Qantas customer service contact from a +91 number should immediately trigger suspicion.

What to Do If You Receive an SMS from 917218248388

If you receive a text message from 917218248388 or similar suspicious numbers:

• Do not: Click any links in the message, reply to the SMS, or provide any personal or financial information
• Do: Delete the message immediately and block the number 917218248388
• Do: If you have genuine Qantas points, log into your account directly via the official Qantas website or app to check your balance-never through links in unsolicited messages
• Do: Contact Qantas directly using the phone number on your official membership card or the Qantas website to verify whether any contact was genuine

Reporting 917218248388

Report this scam SMS to Australian authorities using these resources:

• ACMA (Australian Communications and Media Authority): Forward the SMS to 0429 999 888 or report online at acma.gov.au
• Scamwatch: Lodge a detailed report at scamwatch.gov.au, including the date, time, and exact message content from 917218248388
• Qantas: Report the impersonation directly to Qantas via their official website or customer service line so they can alert other members
• Reverseau: Contribute your experience to help other Australians identify this number (917218248388) and similar scams

Why Frequent Flyer Impersonation Works

Scammers target frequent flyer programs because they're commonplace among Australian travellers. A message about expiring points triggers urgency and makes people less likely to verify before clicking. The fact that 917218248388 sent this to someone without an active Qantas account shows the scammer is using generic message broadcasts, hoping some portion of recipients will have points to protect.

Protecting Yourself from Airline Impersonation Scams

Legitimate airlines like Qantas use secure in-app notifications, account logins, or verified Australian phone numbers for customer contact. SMS messages about account actions, especially from international numbers like 917218248388, are almost always scams. If you're unsure whether a message is genuine, contact the airline directly using contact details from your membership card or their official website-never use contact details from the suspicious message itself.

Frequently Asked Questions