Fraudsters try to scam forwarding companies worldwide

A warning has gone out for forwarders in the UK about fraudsters posing as the International Air Transport Association (Iata) in order to extort money. The British International Freight Association (Bifa) has issued an alert about the fake emails being sent to the trade association’s members, which make false requests for payments. The emails are being sent to freight forwarding companies worldwide. One example of a fraudulent email is headed: ‘IATA OUTSTANDING INVOICE’ and the text states: ‘there are some outstanding debt your company needs to pay International Air Transport Association (IATA), Kindly check your record/file and get back to us for payment procedure. Failure to read from your company for action may lead to sanctions taken.’ Director general Peter Quantrill says: “Members have reported email demands for payments from Iata and indeed we have received a number of these at the secretariat. “Most of the messages bear the usual tell-tale signs of a scam such as an address for Iata @gmail or @yahoo, however, some of the more deceptive scammers have managed to replicate @iata.org into the email suffix. “Our advice to members is don't be taken in. The only payments made to Iata will be via a CASS account and unsubstantiated emails should be deleted immediately.”