American Airlines Warned Against a Phishing Scam

The users of AAdvantage frequent flier program has been cautioned by American Airlines of an email scam which appears to have come from the airline and targets their personal details for ID theft and other malicious programs, as reported by Sun-Sentinel on June 8, 2008.

Phishing is about taking over of personal data like credit card or login details by pretending to have come from an authentic entity in an e-communication. The members of AAdvantage flier program receive these kinds of phishing mails. This flier program is known to be the American's travel awards program.

The sources from American Airlines revealed that the mail contains an incomplete survey and offers $ 50 for completing it. If the user clicks on the attached link, he is taken to a site in Russia. Consequently, private data is exposed. Therefore, the Airline suggested that the link should not be opened and the mail should be erased.

Also, the users, who clicked on the link, were taken to a Web page, which looks like the authentic page of AA.com where users were directed to divulge the membership number and PIN of AAdvantage flier program. After that, it lands up on a site with queries about sites of America. And finally, they is taken to a page where the users is asked to give social security number, mother's maiden name, ATM Pin, DOB, expiration date and credit card number.

The airlines got the mail from a recipient and the airline informed the IT security personnel of America and AAdvantage department. It was discovered that the message, which appears to have come from AA.com, have been traced down to a server located in Moscow.

The Airlines believes that the hackers' main objective was to acquire credit card information instead of accessing AAdvantage details to illegally grab free tickets as regular flyer awards can be easily discovered. Shockingly, it seems that it has inaugurated a new trend in the world of cyber crimes.

Just like credit card issuers and banks, hackers also know that frequent flyers are immensely popular with the customers nationwide. That is the reason perpetrators can attack the mileage program users.

Related article: American College of Physicians’ Website Hacked by North Carolina Businessman

» SPAMfighter News - 6/26/2008