July 21, 2025 9 Minute Read

• Dark web travel agencies remain a persistent niche in the cybercrime ecosystem. SpiderLabs reviewed the operation of four dark web travel agencies.
• Dark web travel agencies were not spotted targeting specific hotel chains or airlines; instead, they exploit popular booking aggregators to fulfill client requests.
• Dark web travel agencies are adaptive and continuously seek new ways to provide their services, even when certain channels are blocked.

Dark web travel agencies have emerged as one of the more sophisticated and lucrative operations within the underground economy. As mentioned in the Wall Street Journal's coverage of Trustwave’s research, these shadowy enterprises offer dramatically discounted flights, luxury hotel stays, rental vehicles, and entire vacation packages, all facilitated through stolen credit card information, compromised loyalty program accounts, and forged identification documents. However, what might appear to some to be cheap travel deals, are in fact the final link in a chain of digital crime.

Figure 1. One of the initial dark web travel agency’s posts describing services that they are providing. The service is still active as of writing.

Behind the curtain of these bargain bookings lies a complex ecosystem of cyber threats. Credential harvesting through phishing campaigns, malware infections, and data breaches feeds a black-market economy where airline miles, hotel points, and verified user profiles are bought and sold like commodities on Wall Street. With the help of automation and anonymity tools, these services operate with a level of efficiency that rivals legitimate online travel agencies.

As cybercriminals evolve their tactics, blending traditional fraud with new technologies, the threat posed by dark web travel agencies has become increasingly difficult to detect and far more damaging to the travel and hospitality industry.

Cybersecurity Situation in the Travel Industry in 2024-2025

Over the past two years, the operations of dark web travel agencies have expanded significantly, driven by the widespread availability of stolen personal data, compromised loyalty accounts, and automated fraud techniques. These underground services, sometimes, but not always, cloaked in professional-appearing interfaces and accepting a variety of payment types, offer discounted flights, hotel bookings, and even car rentals at the expense of legitimate businesses and consumers. In response to the growing sophistication of these threats, major players in the aviation and hospitality industries have begun scaling up their cybersecurity efforts.

Figure 2. The SITA portal reports a significant shift in cybersecurity investment trends across the industry.

The aviation sector has responded decisively. According to a 2024 report by SITA, global IT spending by airlines and airports has reached record highs, with 66% of airlines and 73% of airports identifying cybersecurity as their top investment priority. This surge includes implementing biometric ID management, advanced threat detection systems, and secure APIs to reduce exposure to cybercrime originating from cyber actors or nation-sponsored hacking groups.

Cybercriminals operating in the travel industry have intensified their focus on exploiting high-value digital assets such as frequent flyer accounts, corporate travel portals, and backend infrastructure. These actors increasingly rely on data obtained through phishing campaigns, credential-stealing malware, and third-party vendor breaches to gain unauthorized access to sensitive travel-related systems. Stolen credentials are traded and sold across dark web forums and marketplaces, where they are used to book flights, access loyalty points, or impersonate travelers.

At the same time, the hospitality industry has seen a parallel increase in attacks targeting online booking systems and customer loyalty programs. In response, companies have turned to fraud detection, employee training against AI-enhanced scams, and greater collaboration with cybersecurity companies. As threat actors continue to innovate with deepfake identities, automated booking bots, and compromised corporate travel APIs, the cyber risks tied to dark web travel operations are no longer fringe. They are fast becoming a mainstream concern for every organization with a digital booking interface.

Taking a Look at How a Dark Web Travel Agency Operates

While the idea of a full-fledged travel agency operating in the shadows of the Internet may evoke images of slick websites with booking engines, the reality is often far less polished and far more covert. Most so-called “dark web travel agencies” are not actual platforms with integrated booking systems. Instead, they function primarily as facades: basic landing pages, posts on forums or marketplaces that introduce or redirect users to communication channels such as Telegram, Wickr, TOX, etc.

Figure 3. Landing page of a dark web travel agency advertised on one of the forums.

Once contact is established, the operation moves to a one-on-one messaging format, where the “service provider” engages directly with the client. This setup allows for custom handling of orders, such as booking specific flights, hotels, or vacation packages.

Figure 4. The same landing page provides various contact options to reach the “service provider”.

Clients typically provide trip details (e.g., destination, dates, airline preferences, sometimes with previously made bookings or reservations), and the provider replies with prices, availability, and payment instructions.

Figure 5. The Telegram channel of the dark web travel agency, redirected from its landing web page.

These channels often showcase sample bookings, customer reviews, and pricing tiers to build trust and simulate legitimacy. Some vendors even offer “rebooking” guarantees or loyalty discounts for repeat customers. However, everything is handled manually behind the scenes, relying on human operators and a network of credential suppliers, rather than automated systems.

Figure 6. A dark web travel agency’s Telegram channel.

This structure provides cybercriminals with both flexibility and anonymity. By shifting operations to encrypted chat apps, they avoid hosting incriminating infrastructure and reduce exposure to law enforcement. Meanwhile, customers lured by deep discounts and the promise of no questions asked often ignore the broader implications of participating in a supply chain built entirely on stolen data and financial fraud.

Booking Dark Web Travel : Step by Step

The operation of a dark web travel agency unfolds like a shadowy mirror image of a legitimate online service starting with an ad and ending with a seat on a real-world flight, all built on stolen data and illicit infrastructure.

Figure 7. A dark web travel agency post in the proper forum section.

It typically begins when a user often already familiar with underground forums comes across a vendor advertisement or forum section. These ads circulate on darknet marketplaces, closed Telegram groups, or encrypted chat boards like Dread or Raddle. The message might promise “50% off global flights”, “luxury hotels with discounts” or “business class bookings using loyalty points.” The ad includes a link to a website or directly to a Telegram handle.

Figure 8. Dark web-advertised travel agency’s website.

If a website is provided, it’s usually a minimalist landing page showcasing sample itineraries, screenshots, client reviews, pricing tiers, and contact details. There’s no real-time booking engine. Instead, visitors are prompted to initiate contact, almost always via Telegram or another secure messenger. Once in the channel or private chat, the buyer is greeted by a vendor or operator, often using automated bots for intake and verification.

Figure 9. Booking rules described on the website of one of the dark web travel agencies.

The conversation usually follows a straightforward script. The buyer provides trip details: departure and destination cities, preferred dates, flight class, and airline if desired. Some also request hotel check-in dates or car rentals. In return, the vendor responds with availability options, screenshots, and a price typically 30 to 70% below market rate. Payment is requested in different options including cryptocurrency, often with instructions for wallet setup if the buyer is inexperienced.

Once payment is confirmed, the operator proceeds to book the travel using stolen credit card data, breached loyalty accounts, or fake identities.

A few hours later, the customer receives an official-looking confirmation usually legitimate, because the booking was made through a real airline or hotel system. Some vendors offer rebooking or refunds if the ticket is canceled due to fraud flags, but that “guarantee” varies by operator.

From start to finish, the buyer may never realize the extent of the criminal ecosystem enabling their trip: hacked data, carders, phishing kits, and laundering services all feed into this operation. And behind every “cheap flight” is someone else’s compromised account or their financial loss.

Luxury to Budget: Illicit Travel for Every Wallet

Contrary to popular belief, dark web travel agencies do not cater exclusively to luxury travelers looking for five-star hotels and business-class flights. While premium offerings such as international resorts, yacht charters, and private excursions are certainly available, these illicit services span the full financial spectrum from luxury to low-cost budget options. In reality, many of these operations thrive on volume rather than prestige.

Figure 10. A dark web travel agency shows a customer’s feedback of using its service in a luxury airplane.

Cybercriminal vendors on platforms like Telegram and darknet forums routinely offer bookings for three-star hotels, low-cost airlines, booking stays, and excursions. Clients can request anything from a five-star hotel in Dubai to a weekend getaway in a cheap European city hotel to budget safari packages, train passes, or even museum entry tickets.

Figure 11. A client’s feedback on booking a private yacht trip.

The reason is simple: when using stolen credit card data or compromised loyalty points, the size or status of the purchase matters far less than the ability to process the transaction before it’s detected or blocked.

Figure 12. A dark web travel agency program customer illustrates provided service.

The underlying mechanism commonly carding treats all targets equally. Whether it’s a $4,000 Maldives resort or a $120 hostel in Prague, it’s just another transaction. For the cybercriminal, the key variable is the card’s available limit and the merchant’s anti-fraud tolerance. As a result, dark web agencies offer their criminal services to a broad audience: not just professional fraudsters or high-end spenders, but also everyday users looking to save money without asking too many questions.

Figure 13. A dark web travel agency posts feedback from its client’s rental of an apartment in Britain.

This democratization of fraud makes the threat far more pervasive. It’s not limited to luxury brands or exclusive destinations — it touches mid-range hotel chains, budget travel platforms, family vacation spots, and tour operators worldwide. For the hospitality industry, this means every property, regardless of star rating, is potentially exposed. For cybersecurity professionals, it’s a reminder that combating fraud requires vigilance across all price levels, not just at the top.

A Game of Cat and Mouse with Dark Web Travel Agencies

The battle between dark web travel agencies and cybersecurity defenders sometimes looks like a high-stakes game of whack-a-mole. One where every closed loophole is quickly replaced by a new exploit. As travel platforms tighten security and fraud detection systems grow more advanced, cybercriminals adapt in real-time, finding creative ways to get back to business.

Figure 14. A dark web travel agency advertises a new ability to restore providing “services” from Rentalcars.com.

One striking example of this dynamic emerged at the end of May 2025, when some dark web travel vendors began advertising a renewed ability to provide car rentals via Rentalcars.com. This announcement followed months of silence after the service had previously been restricted, likely due to increased anti-fraud measures and account lockouts. The reappearance of “Rentalcars service available again” in dark web signals that actors have found a new workaround, either through fresh stolen payment data, reconfigured automation scripts, or new user account exploit paths.

This is a case of the cyclical pattern dominating the fight against illicit travel services. Platforms invest in fraud controls, card issuers add tokenization, and loyalty programs implement multi-factor authentication (MFA). But cybercriminals, empowered by large data leaks and breached credentials, pivot with new tactics. When one window closes, another quietly opens — often in a different service category or through another platform.

In this ongoing conflict, there is no final takedown, only adaptation. For the defenders, it’s a race to make the cost of fraud too high and the success rate too low. For the attackers, it’s just a business — another pivot, search for new abilities, relaunch.

Conclusions

Dark web travel agencies are no longer fringe operations — they represent a persistent and evolving threat to the global travel and hospitality ecosystem. Operating through encrypted platforms and fueled by stolen credentials, these services offer everything from luxury resort stays to low-cost car rentals. Their adaptability is a key strength: as soon as one channel is shut down, another emerges, often with improved tactics and broader service offerings.

The core of the threat lies not in any single vendor or platform, but in a decentralized, resilient underground economy that treats fraudulent travel as just another monetization path. The expansion of AI tools, automation, and credential theft campaigns only makes these services more accessible and scalable. As long as there is a market for steep travel discounts with no questions asked, and as long as data breaches remain profitable, dark web travel agencies will continue to thrive.

Potential Red Flags in the System

For airlines, hotels, car rental services, and booking platforms, the signs of fraud carried out by dark web travel agencies are often subtle at least at first, but if left unaddressed, these indicators can quickly escalate into financial losses, reputation damage, and increased fraud risk exposure. Recognizing early signs of carded bookings is essential for any company operating in the travel ecosystem.

• One of the most common red flags is a high-value or international booking made under a newly created account, especially if it's paired with last-minute travel or same-day check-in. These are classic tactics to reduce the window in which fraud might be detected or reversed.
• Mismatched information is another key indicator. This includes inconsistencies between the booking name, credit card name, and ID presented at check-in. In hotel and car rental contexts, a guest may seem unfamiliar with the booking details, refuse to provide additional verification, or behave evasively when asked for confirmation.
• Frequent failed payment attempts, especially using cards from various countries or anonymous virtual card issuers, can also signal that an attacker is testing stolen data in real time. A sudden spike in bookings from unusual IP geolocations, or the use of proxy networks, is often associated with fraud automation tools used by dark web vendors.
• For loyalty-based bookings, signs may include large or unexpected point redemptions, especially from dormant accounts or those accessed from foreign IP addresses. Fraudsters often exploit these programs through previously breached login credentials or phishing campaigns.
• Finally, be cautious of repeat bookings under similar names or patterns that originate from different accounts. This could indicate organized abuse, where a dark web agency is using a specific travel platform or API as its main operational channel.

Detecting these patterns early can allow fraud teams to flag, freeze, or manually verify suspicious transactions before revenue is lost or legitimate customers are inconvenienced.

Recommendations for Affected Companies

• Monitor Dark Web and Telegram Channels for Brand Abuse: Invest in threat intelligence tools or partner with cybersecurity firms capable of tracking unauthorized mentions of your company across underground forums, marketplaces, and encrypted messaging platforms.
• Strengthen Loyalty Program Security: Add MFA, transaction alerts, and geofencing to loyalty accounts. These programs are frequently targeted due to the ease of monetizing miles and points for bookings.
• Train Frontline Employees on Social Engineering and Document Verification: Ensure that hotel staff, car rental agents, and customer support teams are trained to identify fake bookings, detect mismatched IDs, and escalate suspicious activity. Include awareness of AI-generated voice and fake ID use.
• Review API Access and Third-Party Integrations: Dark web vendors often exploit vulnerabilities in booking APIs or third-party aggregators. Regularly audit these systems for abuse patterns, access controls, and rate-limiting enforcement.
• Collaborate and Share Intelligence: Join information-sharing networks such as RH-ISAC or aviation-specific ISACs to exchange data on recent fraud trends, emerging threats, and TTPs (tactics, techniques, and procedures) used by threat actors.
• Communicate with Affected Customers Transparently: If fraud is detected post-booking, inform customers clearly and proactively. Transparency helps preserve trust and reduces brand damage, especially if you can demonstrate active steps taken to prevent recurrence.