Emirates warns against fake first-class membership deals as phishing scams rise

Workshops and training for young people are being launched to help them spot the rising number of phishing scams online. Emirates airline is the latest to warn its customers of dummy adverts, following a fake membership offer to enrol in a discounted subscription to fly first class. A phishing scam posing as an advert offering 10 first class flights anywhere in the world for a $300 annual membership fee circulated across social media, prompting Emirates Airline to speak out. “Emirates is aware of fraudulent ads circulating on social media platforms that direct users to websites impersonating our legitimate site,” a representative said. “We urge customers to stay cautious. All official Emirates communications are only shared through our verified channels.” Phishing scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and rising in number as artificial intelligence tools make it easier for criminals to stage attacks with convincing fakes that mimic legitimate brands. Meanwhile, social engineering to trick users into making security errors or revealing sensitive information is used to exploit people's trust in popular brands and respected companies, making it harder for consumers to recognise scams.<br/>