Alert Issued Over Air Ticketing E-Mail Scam

The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) have received several complaints regarding a fake e-mail, which claims to be from an airline company. The e-mail is containing a fake receipt and ticket and advises consumers that they have been charged A$500.

The commission said that if someone opens the attachment, there are chances of installing a harmful software that could infect the system. Further, scammers make use of harmful software to retrieve private data like private records and banking password stored on a system's hard drive.

Airlines are also cautioning users to beware of fake ticket confirmation that is sent out under the banner of carrier. Some e-mails thank users for using their airlines services- "Buy Flight Ticket Online" service offers them an account login and password and lay out credit card charge.

Further, the fake mail carries an attachment labeled "e-ticket". Fortunately, the e-mail appears fake because of spelling and grammatical errors. As the attachment carries the virus - Trojan.Zbot-1715-, the system gets infected.

Airlines have alerted that they are not sending these bogus e-mails and added authentic mails from the organization are the consequences of customer orientated ticket purchases and carries details that the user will immediately identity.

In July 2008, several airlines like Northwest, Delta Airlines and Sun County had issued warnings, alerting users to beware of any suspicious e-mails claming to have come from the company. Further, someone is using the name of the organization in scam mails, a clear indication to stealing of identities.

Further, airlines also recommended that these kinds of e-mails should be deleted without opening the attachment or link. After this, one should check the credit card to confirm it hasn't been charged. Airlines also claimed that Information Technology and Corporate Security departments are trying their best to locate the origin of the e-mails.

Further, ACCC also suggested that users should delete these types of mails or call the airline to confirm the purchase as computer experts claimed that these types of Internet attacks are phishing mails and they are increasing rapidly.

Related article: Alert Issued on Unauthentic Software Sites

» SPAMfighter News - 8/26/2008