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Vacation Travel Scams Are Up 900%

Aug 19, 2024

Summer is a popular time for vacation travel. If you’re looking to squeeze in any last-minute travel, there is a scam circulating that you need to be aware of. As costs for everything from food to travel continue to increase, the logical step is to search for the best deals online to book a memorable trip without breaking your budget. According to Booking.com, cybercriminals have decided to capitalize on this need and are now using one scarily convincing, AI-generated phishing e-mail that can cost victims way more than their vacation fund. Booking.com’s CISO, Marnie Wilking, shared that the organization has seen a 500% to 900% increase in travel-related scams in the past 18 months using this malicious tactic.

How are these scammers doing it? Phishing e-mails have existed since the dawn of the Internet, but AI tools like ChatGPT are making it increasingly easy to create realistic and professional scam e-mails that are more likely to trick readers. In the past, phishing e-mails were riddled with red flags such as spelling and grammatical errors. With the rise of AI, it’s easier for cybercriminals to pump out dozens of seemingly legitimate e-mails that often go undetected by software and readers.

Here’s how they work:

Scammers will use sites like Booking.com or Airbnb.com that allow people to list their places as short-term rentals. The scammers send out e-mails offering incredible rates or time-sensitive deals on nonexistent properties. After someone pays, the cybercriminals will either disappear with the money, leaving the renter without a place to stay, or use follow-up e-mails to collect additional “fees” or “charges” before vanishing.

To be clear, these vacation-focused phishing scams are NOT new. The problem now is that, with AI, more people are falling for them because these e-mails are becoming more convincing.

What can you do?

Vacationers can take several key steps to ensure they’re not being duped.

  1. Use two-factor or multifactor authentication, where applicable. Having a confirmation code sent to your phone every time you log in will help prevent phishing attacks and credential theft.
  2. Avoid clicking on e-mail links. If you receive an e-mail promoting a too-good-to-be-true deal, remember, it is likely too good to be true! Go to the website and search for the special. If you can’t find it, there is a chance you will avoid a scam.
  3. Before booking ANY property online, make sure 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.
  4. Use credit cards for online purchases. Using debit cards that are linked directly to your bank account is dangerous. When theft occurs from your debit card, it is difficult to get your money back – if you get it back at all. Using a credit card provides an additional layer of protection.

The most important thing is to stay vigilant. Analyze every e-mail offer you receive and follow cyber security best practices. Standard security software can help detect some of these scam e-mails, but often not all of them, so it’s important to be cautious and look for red flags.

Personal scams may ruin a vacation, but business breaches can cost you and your family their livelihood. To keep your network secure, call us at 920-489-3187 or click here to book a FREE 10-minute discovery call with our cyber security experts, who can help you create a plan that protects you. We are here to help! Enjoy a well-deserved break this summer, and remember to be cybersmart.

In this episode of the Your Business Tech Podcast, LoyalITy’s Conor Jones welcomes Will Robinson of ESOP Partners for a conversation about networking, sales, continuous learning and employee ownership.

Will’s approach to networking is built around a straightforward principle: focus on becoming a trusted resource rather than simply promoting what you sell.

Early in his career, a mentor told him that he sounded more like a vendor than a partner. To change that perception, Will began learning more about the people in his network, the problems they solved and the connections that could help them succeed. His goal became being one of the first people business leaders think of when they encounter a challenge—even when he is not the person who can solve it directly.

Creating Relationships That Last

Effective networking is not about collecting business cards or expecting an immediate return. It means asking who someone wants to meet, understanding their objectives and making thoughtful introductions whenever possible.

It also requires consistency. Strong professional relationships develop when people stay connected, provide value and actively look for ways to support one another over time.

That same collaborative mindset helped lead Will to ESOP Partners. Employee stock ownership plans can provide business owners with a succession-planning option that rewards employees, preserves company culture and maintains a company’s connection to its community.

Throughout the episode, Connor and Will reinforce an important lesson: long-term success comes from creating value for others. Whether you are sharing knowledge, making an introduction or helping an owner plan for the future, meaningful relationships begin by asking one question:.

How can I help?

Watch the full episode of the Your Business Tech Podcast to learn more about relationship-based networking, employee ownership and professional growth.

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