TSA Warns US Travelers of Widespread PreCheck Phishing Scam

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued urgent warnings about a new email and website scam targeting travelers interested in the TSA PreCheck program. Scammers are sending phishing emails and creating fake websites that closely mimic the official TSA PreCheck site, urging travelers to enroll quickly and pay fees, which results in the theft of personal and financial information. The TSA and Federal Trade Commission advise travelers to use only the official TSA PreCheck website (tsa.gov/precheck), avoid clicking on unexpected links, and ensure antivirus protections are active on their devices. Victims of the scam may not realize they have been defrauded until they attempt to use PreCheck at the airport and find their status invalid. Cybersecurity experts warn that the scam uses malvertising and AI-generated content to appear very legitimate, increasing the risk of deception. Separately, Emirates has suspended all social media advertising after fraudulent ads duped customers into purchasing fake tickets and sharing personal data, highlighting a broader trend of travel-related scams exploiting trusted brands and platforms.