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- Oriental tales: how scammers speculate on the topic of "burning tours" due to the war in Iran
Oriental tales: how scammers speculate on the topic of "burning tours" due to the war in Iran
Fraudsters may use various schemes on the topic of "burning tours" to deceive Russians during the Iranian crisis, experts have warned. The attackers take advantage of the fact that, against the background of events in the Middle East, many tourists who were planning a vacation in the region are looking for an urgent alternative. At the same time, hype and haste become an ideal environment for deception, as people lose their vigilance. Read more about what schemes to expect from scammers this spring, how dangerous such tricks are and how to protect yourself from them, in the Izvestia article.
Why scammers turned to the topic of "burning tours"
Fraudsters always choose the most relevant topics in order to capture the attention of potential victims, and then get their data or money, says Alexandra Shmigirilova, GR director of the Security Code information security company, in an interview with Izvestia. Now, against the background of events in the Middle East, many tourists who were planning a vacation there are in search of an urgent alternative. At the same time, hype and haste become an ideal environment for deception, as people lose their vigilance.
"It is advantageous for intruders to create an artificial panic, convincing them that due to the closure of some destinations, travel packages to other hot countries have become scarce and there is a huge demand for them," the expert warns.
Any geopolitical events cause uncertainty in the travel market: destinations are changing, flights are being canceled, discounts and sales are appearing, adds Nikita Novikov, an expert on cybersecurity at Angara Security. In such a situation, potential tourists expect non-standard offers and have less doubt about their reality.
And scammers actively exploit the psychology of scarcity — last places, sales due to mass cancellations of tours, "last minute tours" and discounts. In addition, spring is traditionally the beginning of the high tourist season, when the demand for travel packages is growing sharply. All this makes the audience more receptive to such suggestions.
What schemes to expect in the spring of 2026
This spring, we should expect more technological schemes, as scammers are actively introducing new tools, says Ekaterina Edemskaya, an analyst engineer at Gazinformservice. First of all, this is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create realistic websites and chatbots that communicate like live managers. They will be able to answer questions about hotels and insurance, maintaining a dialogue for hours.
— Schemes with deepfakes will appear, when intruders make video calls through messengers, posing as employees of travel agencies, since technology allows you to change your face and voice in real time, — predicts the interlocutor of Izvestia. — Phishing through travel apps with fake ads of the "Verified" or "Official Partner" categories is also expected to increase.
According to Ekaterina Edemskaya, fake bookings with QR codes that are invalid when checked at the airport may become a separate area of deception. Scammers will actively use cryptocurrencies and fast payment systems without the possibility of a refund. In addition, social engineering is evolving today through the collection of data from open sources to personalize offerings.
Therefore, if a person was looking for tours to Turkey, he will receive a "special offer" in this direction. A combination of schemes is expected, when, after buying a fake tour, a person is offered to take out "travel insurance" or an "expedited visa", extorting additional amounts.
— This spring, the attackers will put pressure on scarcity and urgency, — says Alexandra Shmigirilova. — Their main technique will be to offer "burning vouchers" that supposedly "fly apart" in minutes. At the same time, they will not give the client time to think, check the contract or the company, scaring that otherwise the offer will go to someone else.
How tourists who are "stuck" abroad are attacked
Meanwhile, cheating with "burning tours" is just one of the areas related to tourism that scammers are trying to speculate on. Today, due to the conflict in the Middle East, many tourists cannot get home and record attempts at deception, Alexander Vurasko, Director of development at the Solar AURA Monitoring Center for External Digital Threats, told Izvestia. Here are some of these fraudulent schemes.
Phishing emails about refunds for a ticket on a cancelled flight
Scammers send fake emails or text messages ostensibly on behalf of an airline or travel agency offering to receive compensation for a cancelled flight. The email contains a link to a fake website where the user is asked to enter personal information, including a bank card number, in order to "receive a refund." After that, the attackers gain access to the victim's account.
Fake travel agencies
Fraudsters can create fake travel agencies or websites offering "emergency" tickets for passengers whose flights have been canceled. They demand an advance payment for tickets, promising a quick solution to the problem, but after receiving the money they disappear without providing any services.
Fake Tourist Evacuation Services
Attackers can also offer services for "evacuation" from the conflict zone or emergency transportation to other countries. They create fake websites or social media groups where they ask for a deposit or full payment for transportation. After receiving the funds, they will cease contact, leaving the victim without help.
By handing over passports, card numbers and other information to fraudsters, victims risk becoming targets of repeated deception or credit fraud, Ekaterina Edemskaya notes. In addition, people waste time waiting for a non-existent trip, and may encounter problems when trying to cross the border if a fake reservation is found only at the airport. The psychological damage is also significant — after such an experience, many lose confidence in legal tour operators and refuse to travel altogether, the expert notes.
How to protect yourself from "tourist" schemes
In order not to become a victim of the "tourist" schemes of scammers this spring, cybersecurity experts interviewed by Izvestia advise following a number of specific rules. In particular, according to Nikita Novikov, it is necessary to book tours only through the official websites of tour operators and well-known aggregators. At the same time, offers with too high discounts, especially if they are accompanied by an urgent prepayment requirement, should arouse caution.
— You also need to check the domain name of the website and the availability of legal information about the company: it is important to make sure that you have accessed the resource of a real travel agency or hotel, — the expert notes. — It is not recommended to transfer money to personal bank cards or through anonymous payment services, as such payment methods are often used in fraudulent schemes.
Nikita Novikov also advises to further study the reviews about the company and check its availability in the official registers of tour operators. Special attention should be paid to situations where the client is required to pay 100% in advance and insists on making an immediate decision. Such urgency is one of the common signs of fraud. In turn, experts from the Solar AURA Monitoring Center (Solar Group of Companies) recommend to protect against the "tourist" tricks of fraudsters:
— use only official resources (and check their exact address through a search engine);
— not to provide personal data on suspicious and unofficial websites, as well as during telephone conversations and correspondence with strangers;
— use antivirus software for additional protection against malware and phishing attacks.
— Save all receipts, screenshots of correspondence and documents — they will be useful when contacting the police or the bank. Remember that legal tour operators never put pressure on an instant decision and always provide a complete package of documents before payment," concludes Ekaterina Edemskaya.
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