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- Seasonal aggravation: what to expect from scammers during the spring holidays
Seasonal aggravation: what to expect from scammers during the spring holidays
Russians are actively preparing for spring holidays: according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), at the beginning of 2025, flights to Sochi for the May holidays cost more than a year earlier in April. However, experts warn that scammers may well take advantage of the high demand for last-minute tours and unique offers to steal both money and personal data. Among the new tricks are the use of fake QR codes for payment and booking, as well as the use of chatbots at the booking stage. For more information about what schemes to expect from scammers during the spring holidays in 2025, see the Izvestia article.
Why is the theme of spring holidays interesting to scammers
In the spring of 2025, Russians will have long May holidays — from May 1 to May 4 (four days) and from May 8 to May 11 (also four days). People want to plan their vacation in advance and go on a long-awaited, albeit short vacation.
— However, the topic of spring holidays is also interesting to scammers — they shift the focus of attention to people who definitely have money and who are ready to spend it on themselves and their family, — say the experts of Angara SOC.
The recreation organization itself includes two main components that attract fraudsters: finance and online communication, adds Alexandra Shmigirilova, GR director of the Security Code information security company. Vacation expenses are often among the most significant in the budget of citizens, and online platforms provide scammers with opportunities to cheat and create schemes.
Currently, hotel reservations, purchase of tours, excursions and other services are carried out mainly online, and the number of those who prefer to visit travel agencies in person is becoming fewer, the expert explains. When a person plans his vacation, he usually uses Internet resources and strives to save money.
— Thus, scammers are confident that their "last-minute tours" and "unique offers" will attract attention, — says Alexandra Shmigirilova. — This gives them the opportunity to access the financial and personal data of interested users.
What schemes of scams on the topic of spring holidays should we expect in 2025
The attackers are well aware of the information agenda: the environmental disaster in the south of Russia and the increased cost of holidays in resort regions will encourage citizens to look for warm seas and sandy beaches outside the country, analysts predict Angara SOC. The countries of Southeast Asia and the UAE have already been named the most popular destinations this spring.
— Therefore, there is a high probability that soon we will hear about burning tours to exotic countries from little-known companies, as well as about tempting All-inclusive vacation offers, and even at attractive prices, — experts say.
According to Alexandra Shmigirilova, one of the new tricks of fraudsters may be the use of QR codes for payment and booking, which can lead either to a fake website or to the payment page of an unauthorized booking. Also, attackers, who are always one step ahead of citizens in using modern technologies, can attract tools based on artificial intelligence (AI).
Chatbots will be used to communicate with potential victims during the booking phase. As Alexandra Shmigirilova explains, in this scenario, communication first takes place with a chatbot that "talks" about the advantages of a hotel or recreation center, and if necessary, a person joins the dialogue. Since communication takes place with the "machine", it often inspires greater confidence in the targets of scammers.
"In addition, more sophisticated phishing attacks are possible that mimic the interface of popular instant messengers or mobile booking applications," adds Marina Probets, an Internet analyst and expert at Gazinformservice. — Scammers can also use neural networks to create realistic fake reviews of non-existent hotels or travel services.
Finally, in the spring of 2025, Izvestia's interlocutor does not rule out the widespread distribution of fake coupons and promo codes for discounts distributed through social networks and messengers, and even the appearance of schemes related to cryptocurrency or NFT to pay for travel services — a new vector of fraud that promises instant discounts or exclusive access, but in fact leads to loss of funds..
What schemes of spring break scammers have you encountered before
Fraudsters have already actively used various schemes related to spring holidays in previous years, Marina Probets says in an interview with Izvestia. In particular, fake websites imitating popular travel agencies or booking services were popular with scammers.
— The attackers offered favorable prices for tickets and tours, after which the tourists did not receive any tickets or vouchers, — says the expert. — Phishing emails and messages were also actively used, with the help of which fraudsters lured bank data under the pretext of confirming a reservation or paying for services.
In addition, according to Marina Probets, there were cases of selling fake vouchers for hotel accommodation and rental of non-existent apartments. Some scammers offered last-minute tours at incredibly low prices, while the actual cost was significantly higher, and the quality of services left much to be desired. In general, such schemes were based on the use of trust, haste and a desire to save money on the part of potential victims.
In turn, Olga Svistunova, senior content analyst at Kaspersky Lab, highlights scam ads for renting apartments and apartments, which may be accompanied by attractive photos and suspiciously low prices, among the common fraudulent scenarios related to spring holidays.
"There have also previously been scam pages with travel surveys, for which the user was allegedly offered a reward, such schemes may be aimed at collecting personal data," the specialist notes.
How to protect yourself from fraudulent spring break schemes
Fraudulent schemes related to spring holidays can be aimed at any group of the population, depending on the approach and the appropriate cover story, says Evgeny Egorov, a leading analyst at the Digital Risk Protection department at F6. At the same time, high activity of intruders should be expected closer to the May holidays.
"The peak of fraudulent schemes is likely to occur at the end of April and the beginning of May — the time of mass booking for holidays, which creates opportunities for intruders," Anastasia Vezarko, head of the R—Vision security analysis team, agrees in an interview with Izvestia.
In order to reduce the risks of fraud during the spring break in 2025, the specialist recommends following a few simple recommendations. First of all, check the reputation of travel agencies and websites. It is better to study the reviews of other clients and find out the rating of the company and the availability of official registrations — this will help to avoid contact with fake platforms. You should be careful with links, especially if they relate to financial data.
The expert advises not to follow suspicious messages on social networks and messengers. Even if the offer looks good, check the information through official sources, and book tickets and hotels only from trusted companies. Use the official websites of airlines, hotels, and major travel operators. Avoid offers with suspiciously low prices and lack of detailed information. Carefully compare the details of the offers.
— If the conditions look too favorable or differ from the average market conditions, this is a reason to be wary, — Anastasia Vezarko notes. — Scammers often use tempting prices to attract attention and gain access to personal data.
In addition, you should regularly check bank card statements and monitor any suspicious transactions. If such transactions are detected, you should immediately contact the bank. Compliance with these rules will help minimize risks and protect yourself from fraudulent schemes in the field of spring holidays, the expert concludes.
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