Vacation-Themed Scams Are Spiking

Scammers are now impersonating legitimate services like Booking.com and Kayak to target people planning their summer vacations. One out of every 33 vacation-themed domains registered last month was malicious, researchers at Check Point warn.

“In May 2024, Check Point Research (CPR) detected a significant surge in summer-related cyber scams, highlighting the need for travelers to stay informed and proactive in safeguarding their personal information,” the researchers write.

“Specifically, a notable surge in newly created domains related to holidays or vacations was observed, with a significant increase compared to the same period last year. Out of the 25,668 new domains registered, one out of every 33 was found to be either malicious or suspicious.”

Check Point offers the following advice to help users avoid falling for these scams:

• “Verify website authenticity by checking for HTTPS in the URL and look for trust indicators such as padlock symbols or site seals. Avoid entering personal information on websites with suspicious URLs or those with misspellings
• Exercise caution with emails, even those seemingly from reputable sources. Be wary of unexpected attachments or requests for personal information. When in doubt, contact the company directly using contact information from their official website instead of clicking on links in the email
• Stay informed about the latest cyber security threats and scams by following reputable cyber security blogs, subscribing to security newsletters, and participating in online forums or communities where cyber security professionals share insights and advice
• Use comprehensive security software such as antivirus and anti-malware programs to regularly scan your devices for threats. Keep these programs updated with the latest definitions to ensure they can detect and prevent new forms of malware”

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Check Point has the story.