News Releases

Airline does not use telemarketers and is not making fraudulent calls

CALGARY, March 21, 2014 /CNW/ - WestJet today issued another warning to Canadians to avoid sharing their credit card numbers and other private information with fraudsters posing as WestJet or WestJet Vacations.

"This phone scam and other, similar versions continue to be a source of great frustration for our guests as well as for us," said Richard Bartrem, WestJet Vice-President, Communications and Community Relations. "We would like to reassure Canadians once again that we are not making these annoying calls, and we apologize for the inconvenience. We urge anyone who receives one of these calls to hang up immediately and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca."

For several years, con artists purporting to be from WestJet and other prominent Canadian companies have called random telephone numbers across the country in an effort to obtain credit card information. They say they require a credit card number to cover fees associated with claiming the prize. Once they have a number, they use it to make fraudulent purchases.

WestJet does not use telemarketers or make telemarketing phone calls, nor does it share guests' private information with third parties for the purposes of telemarketing.

A second, less-common scam currently circulating involves fake electronic tickets with long numerical sequences purportedly issued by WestJet. In fact, WestJet itineraries are identified by six letters only and contain relevant information about fares, taxes and fees, baggage allowances, seat selection, inflight entertainment and airline partnerships.

The federal Competition Bureau has declared March Fraud Prevention Month, an annual public awareness campaign designed to prevent Canadian from becoming victims of fraud. For resources and more information, please visit www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/home.

About WestJet
We are proud to be Canada's most-preferred airline, powered by an award-winning culture of care and recognized as one of the country's top employers.  We offer scheduled service to more than 85 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. Through our regional airline, WestJet Encore, and with partnerships with airlines representing every major region of the world, we offer our guests more than 120 destinations in more than 20 countries.  Leveraging WestJet's extensive network, flight schedule and remarkable guest experience, WestJet Vacations delivers affordable, flexible travel experiences with a variety of accommodation options for every guest. Members of our WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more.  Our members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of WestJet flights and vacations packages on any day, at any time, to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods -- even on seat sales.  For more information about everything WestJet, please visit www.westjet.com.

Recent recognition includes:
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2013 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)
2013 Gold Stevie Award Best Transportation Company (American Business Awards)
2013 Chairman's Circle Award: WestJet Vacations (CPSC)
2013 Canada's Most Preferred Airline (Leger Marketing)
2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2013 WestJet RBC MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (Money Sense magazine)

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SOURCE WestJet