Summer is a prime time for vacation travel. If you're planning any last-minute trips, be aware of a new scam circulating. As the costs of food and travel rise, many look online for the best deals to book an affordable, memorable trip. Cybercriminals have seized this opportunity, using a highly convincing, AI-generated phishing email that can cost victims much more than their vacation fund. According to Booking.com's CISO, Marnie Wilking, travel-related scams have surged by 500% to 900% in the past 18 months due to this tactic.
How Are These Scammers Doing It?
Phishing emails have been around since the dawn of the Internet, but AI tools like ChatGPT make it increasingly easy to create realistic and professional scam emails that are more likely to deceive readers. In the past, phishing emails were riddled with red flags such as spelling and grammatical errors. With AI, cybercriminals can now produce dozens of seemingly legitimate emails that often go undetected by both software and readers.
How They Work
Scammers use sites like Booking.com or Airbnb.com, where people list short-term rentals. They send out emails offering incredible rates or time-sensitive deals on nonexistent properties. After someone pays, the cybercriminals either disappear with the money, leaving the renter without a place to stay, or use follow-up emails to collect additional "fees" or "charges" before vanishing.
These vacation-focused phishing scams are not new. However, with AI, more people are falling for them because these emails are becoming more convincing.
What Can You Do?
Vacationers can take several key steps to avoid being scammed.
- Use Two-Factor or Multifactor Authentication: Having a confirmation code sent to your phone every time you log in can help prevent phishing attacks and credential theft.
- Avoid Clicking on Email Links: If you receive an email promoting a deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Go to the website directly and search for the special. If you can’t find it, you may have dodged a scam.
- Verify Contact Information and Reviews: Before booking any property online, ensure that contact information and reviews are readily available. Have other verified users stayed at the property? If so, it’s less likely to be a scam.
- Use Credit Cards for Online Purchases: Using debit cards linked directly to your bank account is risky. When theft occurs from your debit card, it can be difficult to recover your money. Credit cards provide an additional layer of protection.
The most important thing is to stay vigilant. Analyze every email offer you receive and follow cybersecurity best practices. Standard security software can help detect some scam emails, but not all, so it's crucial to be cautious and look for red flags.
Protect Your Business
Personal scams can ruin a vacation, but business breaches can cost you and your family their livelihood. To keep your network secure, call us at 985-871-0333 or click here to book a FREE 10-minute discovery call with our cybersecurity experts. We can help you create a plan to protect you. Enjoy a well-deserved break this summer, and remember to be cybersmart.
