PAL, AirAsia warn public about online scams

MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is warning the public about the proliferation of fake websites and social media pages offering promotional fares or announcing anniversary gifts.

PAL, in an advisory, said bogus websites and pages are luring and misleading customers into thinking that they are official airline promotion sites.

According to PAL, such websites and pages request personal information such as bank account details.

“We warn the public against logging on and engaging with any of these fake platforms, as doing so will compromise or breach the privacy of your personal data,” the airline said.

PAL said it does not utilize its social media pages as a platform to sell tickets.

The airline said tickets are sold only through its official website philippineairlines.com, its contact center hotlines, and ticketing offices or via authorized travel agencies.

“Please note that bank account details are not requested when customers book through any of these sales channels. Our PAL website and PAL Facebook pages do not offer cash/ticket prizes,” PAL said.

“We would like to caution the public on the proliferation of fake websites and social media pages offering promotional fares or announcing anniversary gifts,” it said.

PAL, the first commercial airline in Asia, will mark its 81st anniversary next month.

The airline looks to maintain the momentum toward full recovery after exiting Chapter 11 in less than four months after its filing last Sept. 3 in the US.

It was rated a 4-Star Global Airline by Skytrax in 2018 and was likewise voted the World’s Most Improved Airline in the 2019 Skytrax worldwide passenger survey.

Meanwhile, AirAsia Philippines in an advisory yesterday warned the public on various fraudulent job offerings through text messages and bogus email addresses from people who identify themselves as AirAsia Philippines employees.

The low-cost carrier said reports of illegal activities through different social media platforms came to the company’s attention following the announcement of various job openings for the airasia Super App.

It said most of the victims were from the provinces in Visayas and Mindanao who have very limited opportunities in verifying the legitimacy of such offers.

“We would like to inform the public that legitimate AirAsia job openings are made available through the airline’s website and its other verified recruitment portals,” AirAsia Philippines spokesperson Steve Dailisan said.

“Interviews and processing of requirements are also facilitated either online or at the AirAsia RedPoint headquarters in Manila at no cost to any potential candidate,” he said.

According to Dailisan, it is not an Air­Asia policy to seek money in exchange for employment opportunities.

“We do not tolerate fraudulent acts and we trust that government authorities will look into the welfare of the victims,” he said.

AirAsia Philippines urged the public to refrain from entertaining suspicious job offer invitations and transact only with legitimate AirAsia recruitment teams.