May 12, 2025
Planning a vacation this year? Ensure your confirmation email is legitimate BEFORE you click anything!
With summer approaching, cybercriminals are taking advantage of the travel season by sending counterfeit booking confirmations that closely resemble emails from airlines, hotels, and travel agencies. These scams aim to steal personal and financial information, hijack online accounts, and potentially infect devices with malware.
Even those who are tech-savvy are falling victim to these schemes.
Here's How The Scam Works
A Fake Booking Confirmation Arrives In Your Inbox
The email may appear to be from reputable travel companies like Expedia, Delta, or Marriott.
Hackers often replicate official logos, use proper formatting, and include "customer support" numbers.
Subject lines are designed to create urgency, such as:
- "Your Trip To Miami Has Been Confirmed! Click Here For Details"
- "Your Flight Itinerary Has Changed - Click Here For Updates"
- "Action Required: Confirm Your Hotel Stay"
- "Final Step: Complete Your Rental Car Reservation"
- You Click The Link And Are Redirected To A Fake Website
The email prompts you to "log in" to confirm details, update payment information, or download your itinerary.
Clicking the link directs you to a convincing but fraudulent website that captures your credentials when you enter them.
Hackers Steal Your Information And/Or Money
If you provide your login credentials on the impersonated website, hackers gain access to your airline, hotel, or financial accounts.
Entering payment details allows them to steal your credit card information or conduct fraudulent transactions.
If the link contains malware, your device (and everything on it) could be at risk.
Why This Scam Is So Effective
- It Looks Legit: These phishing emails closely mimic real confirmation emails, including logos, formatting, and familiar-looking links.
- It Plays On Urgency: Warnings about "reservation issues" or "flight changes" can trigger panic, leading people to act quickly without verifying.
- People Are Distracted: Whether at work or excited about an upcoming trip, individuals may overlook the need to double-check an email's authenticity.
It's Not Just Personal - It's a Business Risk Too.
For those who travel for work, this scam poses an even greater threat. Many companies have one person managing all reservations, including flights, hotels, rental cars, and conference bookings.
With the volume of confirmation emails received, a fraudulent one can easily be overlooked. A single click from an office manager, travel coordinator, or executive assistant could:
- Expose your company credit card to fraud.
- Compromise login credentials for corporate travel accounts.
- Introduce malware into your company network if the scam includes malicious attachments.
How To Protect Yourself And Your Business
- Verify Before You Click - Always navigate directly to the airline, hotel, or booking website instead of clicking links in emails.
- Check The Sender's Email Address - Scammers often use addresses that are similar but not exact (e.g., "@deltacom.com" instead of "@delta.com").
- Warn Your Team - Educate employees on how to recognize phishing scams, particularly those handling company travel bookings.
- Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) - Even if credentials are compromised, MFA adds an additional layer of security.
- Lock Down Business Email Accounts - Implement email security measures to block malicious links and attachments.
Don't Let A Fake Travel Email Cost You Business
Cybercriminals know when and how to strike, making travel season a prime target.
If you or anyone on your team is responsible for booking work-related travel, managing reservations, or handling expense reports, you are at risk.
Let's ensure your business stays protected.Start with a FREE 10-Minute Discovery Call. We'll check for vulnerabilities, strengthen your defenses and help safeguard your team against phishing scams like this.
Click here or give us a call at 818-456-0626 to schedule your FREE
10-Minute Discovery Call today!
