Original article (in Albanian) was published on 15/11/2023; Author: Ilda Hoxha
A deceptive scheme is making the rounds on Facebook, falsely claiming that Tirana International Airport is selling lost luggage for a mere one Euro. Faktoje verified that the information originated on a fraudulent page with the intention of collecting private information from unsuspecting citizens.
The misleading message reads, “The Airport is clearing out its warehouse and selling lost luggage for 1 €. All suitcases are full of various items and electronic devices. Nationwide delivery. The offer is available online only until the end of the month. 60 days to return. To order, click the button on the ad and go to the internet page!” It is posted on the profile under the name Tirana International Airport on Facebook.
Posts shared on social media
The post includes an image featuring suitcases and a board displaying prices supposedly set for the advertised lost luggage.
Faktoje took the initiative to investigate this post. The page in question, claiming to be associated with Tirana International Airport (TIA), has approximately 300 followers on Facebook, raising concerns about its authenticity as a legitimate page. Furthermore, suspicions are fueled by the observation that a significant portion of the comments on the post are generated by fake foreign profiles. These comments appear to be fabricated, strategically made up to enhance the perceived credibility of the page among the followers.
“My suitcase was full of quality items from my favorite brands Calvin Klein, Zara, Lev’is and others. It was a real fashion hypermarket in a suitcase”
Clicking on the provided link opens a fake website featuring the Tirana International Airport’s logo, designed solely to pilfer the private data of unsuspecting citizens.
Faktoje checked Tirana International Airport official Facebook page which boasts 38 thousand followers. On the profile, there’s no trace of any official posts notifying users about an offer with lost luggage.
Faktoje reached out to TIA regarding these posts but we have not received a response from the airport as of the time of publishing this article.
Faktoje has previously exposed similar scams wherein the identities of prominent companies in our country were exploited to ensnare citizens in fraudulent schemes.
