As travelers rush to book their summer getaways, Booking.com's internet safety boss says watch out for supercharged AI scams.

Marnie Wilking, Chief Information Security Officer at the Netherlands-based travel giant, said generative AI had sparked an explosion in online phishing scams, and that the hospitality industry, long spared, had also become a target.

"Over the course of the last year and a half, throughout all industries, there's been anywhere from a 500 to a 900 percent increase in attacks, in phishing in particular, across the globe," Wilking said.

Phishing scams are a type of cyber attack where criminals attempt to trick victims into revealing sensitive information such as login credentials or financial account details.

Travel websites can offer a rich bounty to phishing scammers since travelers are often asked to share credit card and family details or upload ID.

With generative AI tools, the scammers can now work in multiple languages and with good grammar, Wilking said.

They are also "really taking advantage of the helpful nature of hospitality," she added. To be helpful to a supposed guest, a hotel owner is "probably going to open up the attachment" that is actually malware, she said.

Wilking said in order to stay safe travelers and hosts should sign up for two-factor authentication when surfing online.

In addition to providing a username and password, two-factor authentication requires users to verify their identity through an added factor, such as a one-time code sent to their mobile device.

And "don't click on anything that looks suspicious, even if you think it might be real," she added.

REUTERS

Online travel agency warns of AI phishing scams