With summer vacation approaching, many school staff are planning trips, conferences, and long-overdue time off. Unfortunately, cybercriminals know it-and they're using this opportunity to target unsuspecting employees with travel-related phishing scams.
These fake booking emails are incredibly convincing. They often appear to come from reputable companies like Delta, Marriott, or Expedia, complete with logos, formatting, and urgent subject lines like:
- "Your Trip to Orlando Has Been Confirmed! Click Here for Details"
- "Your Flight Itinerary Has Changed - Click Here for Updates"
- "Final Step: Complete Your Hotel Reservation"
Sounds familiar? That's the point. These emails are designed to trick you into clicking.
Here's How the Scam Works
1. A Fake Travel Confirmation Lands in Your Inbox
The email appears to be from a well-known travel company, featuring branding that looks legitimate. Sometimes they even include fake customer service numbers to build trust.
2. You Click the Link
The email directs you to a spoofed website-an exact replica of the real one. It might ask you to log in, update your payment info, or download your itinerary.
3. The Hackers Strike
If you enter your login credentials, they're stolen. If you enter payment details, your credit card could be compromised. If the email includes malware, your device-and possibly your school's network-may be infected.
Why This Scam Works So Well
- It Looks Legit: These emails mimic real confirmations almost perfectly.
- It Feels Urgent: Wording like "last step" or "flight change" pressures the recipient to act fast.
- People Are Distracted: Whether wrapping up the school year or prepping for summer travel, staff are more likely to overlook red flags.
- It's Not Just Personal-It's a Risk to the School Too.
Why This Puts Schools At Risk
Many schools have administrative staff who handle travel for conferences, PD sessions, or district-related events. With so many travel-related emails flowing through the inbox, it's easy for a malicious one to slip through-especially during the busy end-of-year season.
A single click from a travel coordinator, executive assistant, or administrator could:
- Expose the school's credit card to fraud
- Compromise shared travel account logins
- Introduce malware into the school network
- Put student or staff data at risk
How To Protect Your School from Travel-Related Phishing Scams
Verify Before You Click
Never click on links in unsolicited travel emails. Always go directly to the airline or hotel website by typing the address manually.
Check the Sender's Email Address
Look carefully. Hackers often use slight variations, like "@deltacom.com" instead of "@delta.com."
Educate Your Staff
Train anyone who handles bookings or travel expenses to recognize phishing attempts and verify confirmations through trusted channels.
Use Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
Even if credentials are compromised, MFA can block unauthorized access to accounts.
Secure Business Email Accounts
Ensure your school's email platform filters phishing emails and blocks malicious attachments and links.
Don't Let a Fake Vacation Email Cost You More Than a Trip
Cybercriminals are counting on distracted staff and busy inboxes this time of year. Whether it's a teacher booking a summer flight or an administrator planning a conference trip, the risk is real.
Let's make sure your school doesn't fall for it.
Schedule a FREE Discovery Call
We'll help you spot vulnerabilities, educate your team, and implement defenses that keep phishing scams like this from slipping through the cracks.
Click here to book your free assessment now.
