“Your Reservation Has Been Updated”
A Common Travel Scam to Watch For

Summer travel season is here, and for cybercriminals, that means opportunity.

One of the most common scams we’re seeing right now involves fake booking confirmation e-mails. These messages look like they’re coming from real companies — airlines, hotels, rental car agencies — and they’re convincing enough to fool even experienced travelers.

We’ve had clients ask us about these. They’ve looked legit at first glance, and that’s exactly the point.

How the Scam Works

Step 1: A fake travel confirmation lands in your inbox.
It might say something like:

  • “Your Trip To Denver Has Been Confirmed – View Details”
  • “Your Flight Itinerary Has Changed – Click Here To Update”
  • “Complete Your Car Rental Reservation”

The e-mail will likely use official logos, polished formatting, and sometimes even a fake customer service number.

Step 2: You click the link.
You’re taken to what looks like a legitimate website where you’re asked to log in, confirm payment details, or download your itinerary. But the site is a fake.

Step 3: Your info is stolen.
Once you enter your credentials or payment information, hackers can:

  • Access your airline or travel accounts
  • Make unauthorized charges on your card
  • Install malware on your device

Why This Scam Works So Well

  • It looks real. The scammers are using real branding and design elements from well-known travel companies.
  • It creates urgency. No one wants to miss a flight or lose a hotel room. These e-mails are designed to get you to act fast.
  • People are busy or distracted. Whether you’re packing for a trip or working through a full inbox, it’s easy to miss the red flags.
  • It’s Not Just Personal – It’s a Business Risk, Too

If anyone on your team handles travel arrangements — for conferences, client meetings, or site visits — this scam could target your business directly. One click from a well-meaning staff member could:

  • Expose your company credit card
  • Give hackers access to your travel account logins
  • Introduce malware into your network

How To Protect Yourself and Your Business

  1. Don’t click links in confirmation e-mails. Go directly to the airline, hotel, or booking site instead.
  2. Check the sender’s e-mail address. Watch for small changes — scammers love domains like “@deltatickets.com” instead of “@delta.com.”
  3. Talk to your team. Make sure employees know about this scam — especially those booking travel.
  4. Use multifactor authentication. It adds a layer of protection, even if login credentials are compromised.
  5. Secure your e-mail accounts. Make sure spam filters and malware protection tools are in place and up to date.

Stay Smart This Travel Season

You don’t need to stop booking online — but you do need to stay cautious. Scammers are counting on you (or someone on your team) to be too busy to double-check. Let’s not make it easy for them.

We offer a FREE Cybersecurity Assessment to help qualified businesses spot vulnerabilities, secure their systems, and stay protected from threats like this one. If travel’s part of your work routine, this is especially important.

👉 Click here to schedule your 10-minute phone call.

Let’s make sure this summer’s travel stories are the good kind — not a cautionary tale.