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Scammers Look to Exploit Summer Travel Season with Fake Online Travel Agencies
As the summer travel season approaches and the cost of vacations continues to rise, scammers are taking advantage of the situation by creating fake online travel agencies that do not actually exist. Inflationary pressures are causing people to look for deals, which is why bad actors are targeting them with phishing scams that appear to offer discounts and other advantages. According to Micki Boland, an IT security expert at Check Point, cybercriminals are cashing in on these opportunities.
Phishing is the most common method used by scammers to trick people into providing their personal information. Fraudulent emails claiming to be from legitimate travel agencies, such as Southwest Airlines, may offer gift cards worth $100 or more. Once someone clicks on the phishing link, they could end up on a fake site or a watering hole where malware is installed on their device.
Even online ads that appear to promote airlines or hotels are not always legitimate. Boland cited a Vietnamese airline ad that was actually a cleverly cloned fake site. When someone enters their information on the site, the scammers capture all of their data without their knowledge. To verify the authenticity of any website, Boland suggests checking for the “lock” icon. If it is genuine, clicking on the icon will reveal how the website protects user data.
While travel agents can be useful in planning trips, fraudulent travel agents also exist. One such fake agency is “Patriarch Travel,” which is based in Russia and operates on the dark web. The agency offers discounted prices of up to 50% for airline and hotel bookings using stolen accounts. It is unclear whether the agency sells directly to consumers or whether they sell to third parties who then scam their victims.
Researchers at Check Point also discovered an internet ad offering hotel rewards points. However, the site was designed to steal users’ passwords and use brute force attacks to invade other accounts. Boland warns that travel scams are expected to increase as more people return to traveling, potentially causing billions of dollars in losses due to fraud.
In conclusion, travelers need to be wary of scams. Scammers are increasingly sophisticated in their tactics, and people should remain vigilant to protect themselves against fraud. Before providing any personal or financial information, travelers should verify the authenticity of travel sites or work with reputable travel agents to reduce their risk of falling victim to a scam.
