If you have an upcoming flight on Frontier Airlines, here’s an important warning you don’t want to ignore. The airline has issued an alert about an active email phishing campaign targeting its customers. Scammers are apparently trying to trick travelers into handing over sensitive information by sending emails that appear to come from the airline.
According to Frontier Airlines’ official phishing awareness alert, the carrier does not send emails asking customers to confirm flight reservations, re-enter payment information or provide credit card details to receive refunds.
That’s important because these types of scams can be incredibly convincing, especially when you’re traveling. If you receive an email that appears to be from an airline saying there’s a problem with your reservation or that you need to take immediate action to avoid losing your flight, it’s easy to panic and click without thinking.
And that’s exactly what scammers are counting on.
What Frontier Airlines is warning customers about
Frontier says it is aware of an active phishing campaign and is warning customers that it will never email them requesting that they:
- Revalidate or confirm an upcoming flight or reservation.
- Re-enter or confirm credit card information.
- Provide payment information to receive a partial or full refund.
- Click a link or button to confirm card details, billing information or a refund.
According to NBC Philadelphia, Frontier is investigating the issue.
The airline’s warning is particularly important because scammers often use urgency to get people to act before they have time to think. An email claiming your flight will be canceled unless you confirm your reservation immediately could easily catch someone off guard.
The same goes for an email promising a refund. Who doesn’t want money back from an airline? But if you’re asked to provide your credit card information to receive that refund, consider it a major red flag.
What to do if you receive a suspicious Frontier Airlines email
Frontier has shared several recommendations for customers who receive questionable messages.
First, don’t click on any links or buttons in the email. Even if the message looks legitimate and includes the airline’s logo, that doesn’t mean it’s authentic.
Second, never enter or re-enter your credit card information, payment details, login credentials or other personal information through a link in a suspicious email.
Third, don’t reply to the message or use any phone numbers or contact information included in it. Scammers sometimes provide fake customer service numbers to make their messages appear more legitimate.
Instead, if you’re concerned about an upcoming reservation, open the Frontier Airlines app or type FlyFrontier.com directly into your browser. From there, you can check your reservation without risking a visit to a fraudulent website.
If you’ve already provided payment information in response to a suspicious email, Frontier recommends contacting your credit card issuer or financial institution immediately.
My advice: Never let an airline email pressure you into acting
I’ve been writing about travel scams for years and one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that scammers love creating a sense of urgency. They want you to believe something terrible will happen if you don’t act immediately.
Think about how stressful travel can already be. You’re trying to get to the airport on time, make sure your bags meet the airline’s requirements and keep track of your flight. The last thing you need is an email telling you there’s a problem with your ticket.
My advice is simple: Never click on a link in an unexpected airline email asking you to verify personal or payment information. Even if the email looks official, go directly to the airline’s website or app.
Another tip is to pay close attention to the sender’s email address. Scammers can make the display name look like Frontier Airlines while the actual email address comes from a completely unrelated domain. However, don’t rely on the sender’s address alone because email addresses can also be spoofed.
And remember, this isn’t just a Frontier Airlines problem. Criminals can impersonate virtually any airline, hotel, cruise line or travel company. The same precautions apply whether you’re flying domestically or internationally.
What if you’ve already clicked?
If you’ve clicked a suspicious link but haven’t entered any information, close the page and avoid interacting with it further. If you entered a password, change it immediately through the legitimate website or app and enable multifactor authentication if available.
If you provided credit card or banking information, contact your financial institution right away. Ask whether your card should be locked or replaced and monitor your account for unauthorized transactions.
You can also report suspected phishing emails to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
For questions about the current warning, Frontier Airlines lists 801-401-9000 as its contact number on its official phishing awareness page.
Bottom line
If you’re flying Frontier Airlines, be on high alert for emails asking you to confirm your reservation, update your payment details or provide credit card information to receive a refund. Don’t let a convincing logo, an urgent subject line or the promise of money back fool you. Take a few extra seconds to verify the message independently. And if you know someone who has an upcoming Frontier Airlines flight, consider sharing this warning with them. It might save them a major headache.
