Our Post on “Bogus Virus Email Affecting Sun Country Airlines,”
had an increase in traffic these last few days. I thought it was just
an isolated case with Sun Country Airlines, as it turns out readers are
emailing me other examples from other airlines facing the same problems.

So far, Frontier Airlines, AirTran Airlines and a few others are
being attacked. Now Northwest Airlines’ customers are under attack by
the email as well.

On July 5th, MarketWatch reported Northwest Airlines warning customers of phony email being sent in their name.

The emails thank the recipient for using the new service “Buy flight
ticket Online” on the airline’s website. It states an account has been
set up and gives the email user an account number and password. It also
tells them how much their credit card has been charged. An attachment
is supposed to be the invoice and ticket but instead contains a virus
that infects the user’s computer once it is opened.

The email also contains spelling and grammatical errors.

According to Al Lenza, NWA’s VP of E-Commerce, “Customers should be
aware that these emails are not coming from the airline. NWA
itineraries are specific and contain information that customers will
recognize. If the format does not look familiar to you, and you have
not recently purchased a ticket, do not open the attachment.  Delete
the email right away.”

The new airline email virus is coming at a bad time. With airlines
facing bankruptcies and layoffs, airlines charging fees galore, and now
dangerous emails, what’s next? The airline industry is under attack?
What can we do to help? Should we help? How can we protect ourselves?

I don’t have an answer. Yet.

From Leverage with Love,

Austin Chu

Update:

Seems like the email has been hitting other countries than the
United States. According to the comments, it has hit the UK and parts
of Australia. Word to the wise: Spammers are getting smart, we need to
spread the word before and find out how to help each other.