WestJet issues warning over phishing email scam
WestJet Airlines Ltd. (WJA) is warning the public to be on the lookout for an email scam that is attempting to use the airline’s brand to steal personal information.
The Calgary-based airline took the precautionary step of releasing a statement on Friday urging customers to be aware of “unsolicited or spoofed emails” from its WestJet Rewards brand.
“The scammers are using the trusted WestJet name to create alarm around account deactivation in a fraudulent attempt to steal personal information,” Richard Bartrem, WestJet’s vice president of marketing communications, said in a statement.
“These spoofed emails are not being sent by WestJet or on behalf WestJet, and we have alerted RCMP Canadian Anti-Fraud authorities and urge anyone with concerns to do so as well.”
The spoof emails often feature grammatical and spelling errors, the company said.
Concerned or potentially affected customers can contact the RCMP’s Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8502, or visit their website.
This is not the first time WestJet has issued a warning to the public over this type of scam.
At the beginning of the year, the airline warned the public to look out for phone scammers posing as airline representatives. The company had to reiterate that it does not engage in telephone marketing. It also warned at the time to be cautious of “misdial traps,” where fraudsters use toll-free numbers close to WestJet’s legitimate number in an attempt to defraud guests who have called the wrong number.
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