May 12, 2025
Planning a vacation this year? Before you click on that travel confirmation email, make sure it's the real deal.
As summer approaches, cybercriminals are ramping up phishing scams that mimic booking confirmations from trusted travel companies like Delta, Marriott, and Expedia. These fraudulent e-mails are more convincing than ever—and they're designed to steal your personal info, financial data, or even install malware on your device.
Even savvy travelers are falling for it.
How the Travel Confirmation Scam Works
1. You Receive a Fake Booking E-mail
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Appears to be from a well-known travel company
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Includes official branding, logos, and a fake "customer support" number
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Urgent subject lines like:
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"Your Trip to Miami Has Been Confirmed"
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"Flight Itinerary Changed - Action Required"
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"Complete Your Rental Car Reservation"
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2. You Click the Link and Land on a Fake Website
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The e-mail urges you to "log in," update your payment info, or download your itinerary
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The website looks legitimate but is designed to steal your credentials
3. They Steal Your Info—or Worse
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Entering your login details gives hackers access to your travel or financial accounts
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Entering payment info may result in fraudulent charges
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Some links install malware that compromises your device or business network
Why This Scam Works So Well
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Looks Legit - Uses familiar formatting, logos, and sender names
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Triggers Panic - Urgency prompts you to click before thinking
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People Are Distracted - Busy or excited travelers are easy targets
Not Just a Personal Risk—It's a Business Threat Too
If your team travels for business, this scam becomes even more dangerous. Most companies have a point person for reservations, and one wrong click from:
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An office manager
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A travel coordinator
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An executive assistant
...can result in:
✔️ Company credit card fraud
✔️ Exposed login credentials
✔️ Malware infecting your business network
How to Protect Yourself & Your Business
Go Direct - Never click email links. Go directly to the travel website.
Inspect E-mail Addresses - Look for slight misspellings (e.g., @deltacom.com vs. @delta.com
✅ Train Your Team - Educate staff on how to identify phishing scams
✅ Enable MFA - Adds a second layer of protection, even if credentials are stolen
✅ Secure Business E-mail - Implement e-mail security tools to block threats
✅ Use Endpoint Protection - Defend devices against malware and data breaches
Stay Safe This Travel Season
Cybercriminals are targeting travelers—and businesses in Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and surrounding Orange County cities are not immune. If your company books travel or handles online reservations, it's time to double down on cybersecurity.
At OCMSP, we specialize in protecting small and mid-sized businesses with tailored phishing protection, email security, and managed IT services.
Start with a FREE Cybersecurity Assessment
Let us identify vulnerabilities, fortify your defenses, and help your team stay safe—whether you're in the office or 30,000 feet in the air.
Call: (949) 390-9803
Visit: www.OCMSP.com
Email: info@ocmsp.com
