AirAsia lodges police report over online scammers

Low-cost carrier AirAsia has lodged a police report in connection with irresponsible and unauthorised use of its brand by unscrupulous syndicates or individuals with intent to cheat the public.

The report was made at the Dang Wangi police station Friday.

AirAsia group legal head, Amir Faezal Zakaria said the police report followed numerous public complaints and feedback pertaining to suspicious lottery programmes related to the airline.

Speaking to reporters later, he said AirAsia denied organising programmes of a lottery-based scam called the ‘2014 AirAsia High 5 Bonus Khas’ (2014 AirAsia High 5 Special Bonus) which promised a RM300,000 cheque.

"The lottery has been actively circulating via email from unknown individuals claiming to be ‘JK Allen’ or ‘Jimmy Chan’, using the email addresses airsiamalaysia@taipower.com.tw and airasiahigh5@my0511.com and it is purportedly based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

"We advise the public to ignore such email messages as it is fraud, and AirAsia shall not be held liable for any claims pertaining to the false lottery programme," he said.

Amir Faezal said the airlines official email address for genuine AirAsia staff is staffname@airasia.com, adding that the public should disregard similar offers if the sender used non-official email adressses.

Recently, AirAsia was informed by the public that they often recevied e-mail from scammers identifying themselves as AirAsia (Asia Pacific Regional Headquarters) and using Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Old Airport Road,Tanjung Aru Sabah as business addresses.