May 12, 2025
Planning a vacation this year? Make sure your confirmation email 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 emails from airlines, hotels, and travel agencies. These scams aim to steal personal and financial information, take over your online accounts, and even infect your device 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 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 Taken 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 login credentials when entered.
Hackers Steal Your Information or Money
If you enter your login details on the fake site, hackers gain access to your airline, hotel, or financial accounts. Providing payment information allows them to steal credit card data or make fraudulent transactions. If the link contains malware, your device and its contents could be compromised.
Why This Scam Works So Well
- It Looks Authentic: These phishing emails perfectly imitate real confirmations, including logos, formatting, and familiar-looking links.
- It Creates Urgency: Messages about reservation issues or flight changes cause panic, prompting quick action without careful thought.
- People Are Distracted: Whether busy at work or excited about travel, recipients are less likely to verify email authenticity.
It's Not Just Personal — It's a Business Threat Too
For those who travel for work, this scam is especially risky. Many businesses have a single person managing all travel bookings—flights, hotels, rental cars, and conferences. Because they receive numerous confirmation emails, a fraudulent one can easily go unnoticed. One click from an office manager, travel coordinator, or executive assistant could:
- Expose company credit cards to fraud.
- Compromise login credentials for corporate travel accounts.
- Introduce malware into the company network through malicious attachments.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Business
- Verify Before Clicking: Always visit the airline, hotel, or booking website directly instead of clicking email links.
- Check the Sender's Email Address: Scammers use addresses that look similar but aren't exact (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): This adds an extra security layer even if credentials are stolen.
- 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 exactly when and how to strike, and travel season is prime time. If you or your team book work travel, handle reservations, or manage expense reports, you're a target. Take steps now to protect your business.
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 (419) 522-4001 to schedule your FREE
15-Minute Discovery Call today!
