Summer travel season is here, and cybercriminals are counting on your employees being too busy or excited to notice something’s off. One click on a fake travel confirmation email — and suddenly your entire company is at risk.
These phishing scams mimic real confirmation emails from airlines, hotels, and rental services. They’re designed to steal personal and financial information, compromise credentials, and even install malware on business devices and networks.
Yes, even tech-savvy staff are getting fooled. Here’s what to look out for — and how to protect your business.
How the Scam Works
1. A Fake Travel Confirmation Hits Your Inbox
Cybercriminals send emails pretending to be from trusted names like Expedia, Delta, or Marriott. The messages look authentic — with real logos, formatting, and even fake “support” numbers.
Subject lines are designed to get immediate attention:
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“Your Trip To Chicago Has Been Confirmed – Click For Details”
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“URGENT: Your Flight Itinerary Has Changed”
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“Action Required: Confirm Your Hotel Stay”
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“Final Step: Complete Your Rental Car Reservation”
2. You Click – And Land On A Fake Website
The email prompts the recipient to “log in” to confirm, pay, or view itinerary details. But the link takes them to a fake site that captures login credentials or payment info.
3. Your Data (Or Money) Is Stolen
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Login credentials to airline, hotel, or travel management portals are harvested.
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Company credit card info is stolen or charged fraudulently.
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Malware infects the device — and can spread across your business network.
Why These Attacks Are So Effective
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They Look Real: The scammers go all out – logos, formatting, and copy mimic real emails.
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They Trigger Urgency: A “flight issue” or “reservation error” makes people act before thinking.
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People Are Distracted: Midday meetings, travel planning, or multitasking = less caution.
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They Target Business Travelers Too.
Why SMBs Are Especially At Risk
If your team handles travel – even just occasionally – this scam could land directly in your office. It’s common for one employee (an admin, office manager, or executive assistant) to book all business trips.
All it takes is one bad click to:
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Expose your company credit card.
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Compromise your travel booking accounts.
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Introduce malware into your internal systems.
5 Ways To Protect Your Team And Your Data
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Verify First – Don’t click links in emails. Instead, go directly to the travel provider’s website.
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Check the Sender Address – Watch for subtle misspellings (like @deltacom.com vs. @delta.com).
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Train Your Team – Especially anyone booking company travel or handling expenses.
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Use Multifactor Authentication (MFA) – Adds a layer of protection even if login credentials are stolen.
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Secure Company Email Accounts – Use strong email security to block phishing attempts.
Don’t Let A Phony Travel Email Cost You
Cybercriminals are targeting small and medium businesses in our area right now. If your company manages travel, uses company cards, or stores sensitive information, you’re a target.
Let’s stop the threat before it hits your inbox.
✅ Schedule Your FREE Cybersecurity Assessment Today
We’ll help identify vulnerabilities in your system, strengthen your defenses, and keep your team safe from scams like these.
☎️ Questions? Call us at 815-929-9850
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