May 12, 2025
Planning a vacation this year? Make sure your confirmation email is legitimate before clicking anything!
Summer is approaching, and cybercriminals are taking advantage of travel season by sending fake booking confirmations that closely resemble emails from airlines, hotels, and travel agencies. These scams aim to steal personal and financial information, hijack your online accounts, and even infect your devices with malware.
Even experienced travelers are falling victim.
Here's How The Scam Works
A Fake Booking Confirmation Arrives In Your Inbox
- The email may appear to come from well-known travel companies like Expedia, Delta, or Marriott.
- Hackers often use official logos, proper formatting, and even fake customer support numbers.
- Subject lines 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 leads to a convincing but fraudulent website designed to capture your login credentials.
Hackers Steal Your Information And/Or Money
- Entering your login information gives hackers access to your airline, hotel, or financial accounts.
- Providing payment details allows them to steal credit card information or make fraudulent charges.
- If the link contains malware, your device and all its data could be compromised.
Why This Scam Is So Effective
- It Looks Legitimate: The phishing emails closely mimic real confirmation messages, including logos, formatting, and familiar links.
- It Creates Urgency: Alerts about reservation issues or flight changes cause panic, prompting quick action without verification.
- People Are Distracted: Whether busy at work or excited about travel, recipients are less likely to verify the 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 businesses have a single person managing all travel bookings—flights, hotels, rental cars, and conferences.
Because they handle numerous confirmation emails, a fraudulent one can easily slip through. A single click from your 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 through malicious attachments.
How To Protect Yourself And Your Business
- Verify Before Clicking — Always visit the airline, hotel, or booking site directly instead of clicking links in emails.
- Check The Sender's Email Address — Scammers use addresses that look similar but are slightly off (e.g., "@deltacom.com" instead of "@delta.com").
- Educate Your Team — Train employees to recognize phishing scams, especially those responsible for company travel bookings.
- Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) — MFA adds an extra layer of security even if credentials are compromised.
- Secure 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, and travel season is prime time.
If you or your team handles work-related travel, reservations, or expense reports, you are a target.
Make sure 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 866-523-2985 to schedule your FREE
15-Minute Discovery Call today!
