Cybercrooks target hotels with phishing scam

Microsoft warns of recent phishing attacks targeting the tourism and hotel industry. The attacks are designed to have a high level of success because many hotels have booking.com accounts, which raises the odds recipients will click on the links included in the emails, which install malware. Credit: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett/SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images / Mateusz Slodkowski
The hotel and tourism industry is big business worldwide, including on Long Island where it accounts for $6.6 billion in revenue. Not surprisingly, it has caught the eye of cybercrooks. Microsoft is warning about a phishing campaign targeting hotels with emails impersonating booking.com.
The emails, designed to look like genuine booking.com emails, typically say the online travel agency received a complaint from a guest about “a stay at your property.” The email contains a link where the hotel can “review the complaint” and contact the guest. But Microsoft says the link instead installs malware.
The attacks are designed to have a high level of success because many hotels have booking.com accounts, which raises the odds recipients will click on the dangerous links.
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