May 12, 2025
The Fake Vacation E-mail That Could Drain Your Bank Account
Planning a vacation this year?
Make sure your confirmation e-mail is legit—before you click anything.
That's right. Summer is here, and while you're daydreaming about flights, hotels, and beachside cocktails, cybercriminals are targeting travelers with fake booking confirmations designed to steal your information—or your money.
Even tech-savvy professionals are falling for this one.
Let's break down how the scam works and how to protect yourself and your business.
✈️ How the Scam Works
📨 Step 1: A Fake Booking Confirmation Lands In Your Inbox
It may look like it's from:
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Expedia
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Delta
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Marriott
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Booking.com
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Even a real travel agent you've used before
These phishing emails often use:
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Perfectly copied logos
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Familiar formatting
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Spoofed "customer support" phone numbers
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Attention-grabbing subject lines like:
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"Your Trip To Miami Has Been Confirmed!"
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"Your Flight Itinerary Has Changed - Click Here For Updates"
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"Final Step: Confirm Your Hotel Stay"
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🔗 Step 2: You Click the Link and Visit a Fake Site
The e-mail urges you to "log in," confirm your payment details, or download your itinerary.
But the link?
It takes you to a highly convincing fake website, designed to capture your information.
💥 Step 3: Hackers Steal Your Info or Inject Malware
Once you enter your:
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Username and password → Hackers now own your account
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Credit card details → Expect fraudulent charges
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Or if the site has malware → Your device, files, and business systems could be compromised
🧠 Why This Scam Works So Well
✅ It looks 100% legit
✅ It creates urgency ("Flight changed!" "Reservation problem!")
✅ People are distracted with work or travel planning
🏢 It's Not Just Personal—It's a Business Risk
If you or your staff book business travel, this scam becomes even more dangerous.
Your office manager, executive assistant, or travel coordinator is likely:
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Handling dozens of bookings
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Juggling emails from airlines, hotels, and vendors
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Moving fast and trusting that what looks "normal" is safe
All it takes is one wrong click to:
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Expose a company credit card to fraud
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Hand over login credentials to corporate travel systems
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Let malware enter your company's network
🔐 How to Protect Yourself and Your Business
Here's what you can do now:
✅ Verify Before You Click
Don't click links in booking emails. Go directly to the site (airline, hotel, etc.) in your browser.
✅ Check the Sender's E-mail Address
Scammers use addresses that are close but not exact (e.g., @deltacom.com instead of @delta.com).
✅ Warn Your Team
Train your staff—especially those who manage travel, expenses, or vendor accounts.
✅ Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
Even if credentials are stolen, MFA helps stop unauthorized access.
✅ Harden Your Business Email Security
Use filters and protection tools that block malicious links, spoofed senders, and phishing attachments.
🛡️ Don't Let a Fake Travel E-mail Cost You Business
Cybercriminals love to strike when you're most distracted—and travel season is prime time.
If you or your team handles:
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Business travel
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Reservations
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Expense reports
…then you are a target.
Let's make sure your business is protected.
🎯 Book a Free Discovery Call
We'll talk through your current IT setup, explore your cybersecurity exposure, and help you get ahead of threats like phishing, malware, and business e-mail compromise.