If you’re like a lot of folks around Wichita, you might be thinking about a summer trip—maybe flying out of Eisenhower, hitting the lake, or just getting a break from the daily grind.
Before you go full vacation mode, here’s a heads-up: cybercriminals love travel season. And they’re getting real good at sending fake booking emails that look exactly like the real thing—Delta, Marriott, Expedia—you name it. These scams can hit anyone, but they’re especially dangerous for businesses that book travel for staff or use shared company credit cards. Let’s walk through how the scam works and what you can do to keep your team—and your bank account—safe.
How the Scam Works
1. A “Confirmation” Email Lands in Your Inbox
It looks official. It has the right logos, layout, and even a legit-sounding support number. Subject lines scream urgency:
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“Your Trip to Dallas Has Been Confirmed!”
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“Urgent: Flight Rescheduled”
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“Hotel Reservation Needs Attention”
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“Last Step: Finalize Your Rental Car”
2. You Click the Link
You’re prompted to log in, confirm payment, or view your itinerary. But it’s a trap—a fake website designed to steal your login info.
3. Hackers Steal Info or Drop Malware
Whether it’s your passwords, company credit card, or worse—ransomware—clicking that link opens the door to major problems.
Why It Works (Even on Smart People)
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Looks legit – The design is nearly flawless.
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Hits at the right time – Summer plans plus stress equals faster clicks.
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We trust brand names – Big companies get spoofed all the time.
Why Wichita Businesses Are at Risk
Here in the Wichita area, a lot of companies—architecture firms, medical practices, manufacturing outfits—handle travel in-house. It might be your office manager, your partner, or even you booking flights, hotels, or conferences.
And because everything runs through a handful of email accounts and shared cards, one scam email could:
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Expose a company credit card
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Hand over login credentials to your travel accounts
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Let malware creep into your business systems
How to Keep Your Business Safe This Travel Season
Whether you're booking a quick trip to Kansas City or flying out to a national trade show, here’s how to stay protected:
- Go Straight to the Source - Don’t click email links to check a reservation—just log in directly at Delta.com, Marriott.com, or wherever you booked.
- Inspect the Sender’s Address- Scammers use addresses that look almost right: “@deltatickets.com” instead of “@delta.com”.
- Train Your Team - Anyone managing travel, expenses, or email needs to know the signs of phishing. Just a 10-minute refresher can prevent disaster.
- Turn On Multifactor Authentication - Even if a password is stolen, MFA can stop hackers cold.
- Use Business-Grade Email Security- Modern filters can flag dangerous links and quarantine fake messages before they ever hit your inbox.
Don’t Let a Fake Travel E-mail Derail Your Summer—or Your Business
Cybercriminals know exactly when to strike—and they’re betting you won’t notice that one fake email mixed in with all the real ones. But with a few smart steps, you can enjoy your summer plans without losing sleep over your company’s security.
Let’s help you lock it down. We’re offering a free Cybersecurity Assessment to local Wichita-area businesses. We’ll scan for weak spots, shore up your defenses, and help you keep scams like this out of your inbox.
Contact us to schedule your assessment.
No commitment, no pressure, just information to help you secure your business.
