May 12, 2025
Planning a vacation this year? Make sure your confirmation e-mail is legitimate BEFORE you click anything!
Summer is approaching, and cybercriminals are taking advantage of travel season by sending fake booking confirmations that closely resemble e-mails from airlines, hotels, and travel agencies. These scams aim to steal personal and financial information, hijack your online accounts, and even infect your device with malware.
Even experienced travelers are being tricked.
Here's How The Scam Works
A Fake Booking Confirmation Arrives In Your Inbox
The e-mail may appear to come from well-known travel companies like Expedia, Delta, or Marriott. Hackers often use official logos, correct formatting, and even "customer support" phone 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," or "Final Step: Complete Your Rental Car Reservation."
You Click The Link And Are Redirected To A Fake Website
The e-mail urges you to log in to confirm details, update payment information, or download your itinerary. Clicking the link takes you to a convincing but fraudulent website that captures your credentials when you enter them.
Hackers Steal Your Information And/Or Money
If you enter your login credentials on the fake site, hackers gain access to your airline, hotel, or financial accounts. Providing payment details allows them to steal your credit card information or carry out fraudulent transactions. If the link contains malware, your device and all its data could be compromised.
Why This Scam Is So Effective
- It Looks Legitimate: These phishing e-mails closely mimic real confirmation e-mails, including logos, formatting, and familiar-looking links.
- It Plays On Urgency: Messages about "reservation issues" or "flight changes" create panic, prompting quick action without careful thought.
- People Are Distracted: Whether busy at work or excited about a trip, recipients are less likely to verify the e-mail's authenticity.
It's Not Just A Personal Risk - It's A Business Risk Too
For those who travel for work, this scam is even more dangerous. Many businesses have a single person managing all travel arrangements—flights, hotels, rental cars, and conference bookings. Because they receive numerous confirmation e-mails, a fraudulent one can easily slip through. One click from an office manager, travel coordinator, or executive assistant could expose company credit cards to fraud, compromise corporate travel account credentials, or introduce malware into the 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 e-mails. Check The Sender's E-mail Address - Scammers use addresses that are similar but not exact (for example, "@deltacom.com" instead of "@delta.com"). Warn Your Team - Train employees to recognize phishing scams, especially those responsible for company travel bookings. Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) - MFA provides an extra layer of protection even if credentials are stolen. Secure Business E-mail Accounts - Implement e-mail security measures to block malicious links and attachments.
Don't Let A Fake Travel E-mail Cost You Business
Cybercriminals know when and how to strike, and travel season is prime time. If you or your team members book work-related travel, handle reservations, or manage expense reports, you are at risk. Take steps now to ensure your business stays protected.
Start with a FREE 15-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 817-589-0808 to schedule your FREE
15-Minute Discovery Call today!
