Fake United MileagePlus Redemption Scam
Scammers impersonate United Airlines MileagePlus with fake limited-time redemption offers, phishing for account login credentials and then draining the victim's miles balance.
Part of: Fake Loyalty Points Redemption Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
United Airlines MileagePlus communicates genuine award specials, partner shopping portal bonuses, and credit card linking promotions to its members. Scammers exploit the familiarity of these emails by creating nearly identical fakes that differ only in the sender domain and the destination of the embedded link.
A successful credential capture from a MileagePlus account can yield access to a balance worth hundreds or thousands of dollars in travel value. Scammers prioritise quick liquidation — redeeming miles for e-gift cards or merchandise vouchers that can be used or resold before the victim detects the fraud.
United MileagePlus redemptions are made exclusively through the app and united.com. Any email link that appears to take you to a redemption form outside of united.com or the app is fraudulent.
How this scam works on the United Airlines brand
Phishing emails replicate United's clean corporate design with the United globe logo. A subject like 'Your MileagePlus account: 50,000 bonus miles waiting to be redeemed — limited time offer' creates urgency.
The 'Redeem Miles' button leads to a fake United sign-in page. After logging in, the victim may see a realistic-looking award search interface before being informed that the offer requires 'payment card verification', capturing card details in addition to credentials.
A variant targets MileagePlus Shopping portal users, claiming the portal has credited a large bonus that can be converted to flight miles via an external link. Users who regularly earn miles through everyday shopping are primed to expect these notifications, making them a particularly receptive audience.
Common red flags
- Email arrives from any domain other than '@united.com' or '@mileageplus.com'
- A bonus or redemption opportunity references a specific miles balance that does not match your real MileagePlus account
- You are asked to provide a credit card number to 'confirm' a redemption of miles you already own
- The award price or bonus miles offer is dramatically better than anything advertised on united.com
- No matching offer is visible when you log in directly to united.com or the app
- A countdown of hours or less is used to pressure you into acting before verifying
How to protect yourself
- Access all MileagePlus redemptions through the United app or by navigating directly to united.com
- Enable two-step verification on your MileagePlus account via the 'Security' section in your profile settings
- If you entered credentials through a suspicious link, change your MileagePlus password immediately and review recent account activity
- Contact MileagePlus customer service at 1-800-421-4655 to report suspected fraud and request a hold on pending redemptions
- Monitor your linked United credit card for any unauthorised charges
- Activate MileagePlus email redemption notifications so any future redemption triggers an immediate alert
How to report it
- Report phishing to United at [email protected]
- File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Contact MileagePlus at 1-800-421-4655 to flag unauthorised activity
- File with the IC3 at ic3.gov if financial loss occurred
Frequently asked questions
Does United email members about redemption opportunities?
Yes — United sends genuine promotional emails from '@united.com' addresses. Real emails direct you to log in at united.com or the app; they do not require you to re-enter credentials through a special deep link.
What can a scammer do with my MileagePlus account?
They can redeem miles for merchandise, e-gift cards, or hotel stays; change your account email to lock you out; and use saved payment methods if any are stored. Change your password immediately if you suspect compromise.
How do I set up redemption alerts on MileagePlus?
Log in to united.com, go to your MileagePlus profile, and enable email notifications for account activity. Any redemption will then trigger an immediate email alert.