This website mimicking Qatar Airways and promising give-aways during the Islamic month of Ramadhan is a HOAX.
Ramadhan, which runs from 10 March 2024 to 9 April 2024, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar during which Muslims observe dawn-to-dusk fasting, prayer, and reflection.
The website, whose link has also been shared on Facebook, mimics the airline’s branding and invites people to register for the purported Ramadhan subsidy.
We clicked on the provided link which, however, did not direct us to the legitimate Qatar Airways website whose domain name is qatarairways.com.
Instead, we were directed to an imposter website, whose domain name is bshv.buzz. The fake site instructs users to fill out a multiple-choice questionnaire by entering their name, age, gender, and their opinion of the airline.
After submitting the responses, a new message pops up informing users that their answers have been “saved successfully” and are further instructed to pick a box among those provided to find their prices. Only three attempts are allowed, the message adds.
Once the user picks the “correct box”, they are informed that they have won KSh107,736. However, to redeem the prize, one must share the link to the website to five WhatsApp groups or 20 friends. The gift is supposed to be delivered within five-seven days.
Interestingly, the message does not indicate how the gift will be delivered to the winner. This sequence has the hallmarks of a phishing scam intended to mine people’s personal information and carry out click fraud.
There is no information about the Ramadhan subsidy on the legitimate Qatar Airways website, its Facebook page or Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts.
The WHOIS information about the imposter website shows that it was registered in the US state of Arizona on 7 February 2024.
The WHOIS information of the legitimate Qatar Airways website shows that it was registered on 22 May 1997.
Legitimate sites are typically older than imposters.
Qatar Airways has issued a caution on its website against online fraud perpetrated by scammers mimicking the airline.
“All official communications from the airline are always sent from @qatarairways.com.qa/@qr.qatarairways.com domains, or similar country-specific domains,” the message by the airline reads.
The message adds that the airline does not run lotteries. “You should also be suspicious of emails or communications that claim to come from Qatar Airways advising you that you have won a lottery prize from the airline. Qatar Airways does not run lotteries. If you receive this email, please delete it immediately and do not respond,” the message advises.
PesaCheck examined the website mimicking Qatar Airways and promising giveaways during the holy month of Ramadhan, and found it to be a HOAX.
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