The Fake Vacation Email That Could Drain Your Bank Account

Summer’s almost here—and while most of us are thinking about sun, sand, and flights, cybercriminals are thinking about you.

That’s right—this time of year, phishing scams disguised as travel confirmations ramp up fast. And these aren’t sloppy, amateurish attempts either. They’re polished, convincing, and dangerously effective. I’ve seen smart, experienced professionals click before thinking—because the timing, design, and sense of urgency is spot-on.

Here’s How This Scam Works

Step 1: A Fake Travel Confirmation Hits Your Inbox
It looks like it’s from Delta, Marriott, Expedia—you name it. The email includes logos, links, and urgent subject lines like:

• "Your Trip to Las Vegas Is Confirmed—View Details"

• "Hotel Reservation Updated – Action Required"

• "Flight Change Notification – Click for Itinerary"

Step 2: You Click, Thinking It’s Legit
You’re taken to a fake site—nearly identical to the real one. Maybe it asks you to "log in" or "confirm your payment details." The second you do, that information is captured and weaponized.

Step 3: Your Info—or Company Data—is Compromised
Best case? You lose some personal data. Worst case? They’ve got access to your accounts, your company credit card, or your laptop is now infected with malware. If you’re on a work device, that risk extends to your company’s entire network.

Why It Works So Well

• They look official. These emails use real branding, formatting, even fake customer support numbers.

• They trigger urgency. Travel is emotional. Seeing a flight issue or reservation change makes you react before verifying.

• People are distracted. Whether they’re mid-meeting or packing for a trip, it’s easy to miss the warning signs.

And This Isn’t Just a Personal Threat—It’s a Business One

If your business has staff booking travel—especially if one person manages it all—this type of phishing attack is even more dangerous. I've seen one seemingly harmless click by an admin or travel coordinator result in:

• Compromised corporate credit cards

• Breached accounts tied to booking platforms or travel reward programs

• Malware that spreads through internal networks

What You Need to Do—Now

Here’s what I recommend to all SMBs we work with at Securafy:

• Never click travel links in emails—go to the site directly.

• Verify the sender address. A small change—like @marri0tt-support.com instead of @marriott.com—is easy to miss.

• Train your team. Anyone managing travel needs to know how to spot a phishing attempt.

• Enable MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication). That way, even if login details are stolen, attackers can’t get far.

• Lock down your email security. This includes link scanning, attachment filtering, and threat detection.

Bottom Line: Don’t Let A Fake Trip Derail Your Business

Cybercriminals time these scams for maximum effect—and they know how to make them look real. The cost isn’t just a few dollars on a card. It’s downtime, lost trust, and business risk you can avoid.

If you’re not sure your business is protected from these types of threats, let’s talk. It takes 10 minutes to assess your current setup—and that small investment of time could save you from a major hit later.