You set it. You forget it. And just like that, while you’re packing for vacation, your inbox starts automatically broadcasting:
“Hi there! I’m out of the office until [date]. For urgent matters, please contact [coworker’s name and e-mail].”
Sounds harmless, right? Convenient, even.
Except…that’s exactly what cybercriminals love to see.
As vacation season ramps up, many of us will leave such messages to let others know that we are away. Unfortunately, a typical out-of-office (OOO) reply gives hackers two crucial things: They know you’re not going to see or respond to unusual activity right away. It’s the perfect window to act. You just gave them a roadmap to who you are, who your team is, and who handles things while you’re gone. Your auto-reply message meant to keep things organized and moving smoothly is also a gold mine of intel for bad actors looking for an easy way in.
Let’s break it down. A typical OOO message might include:
- Your name and title
- Dates you’re unavailable
- Alternate contacts (with their e-mail addresses)
- Internal team structures
- Even details about why you’re gone (“I’m at a conference in Chicago…”)
- Timing: They now know you’re unavailable and less likely to notice suspicious activity.
- Targeting: They know exactly who to impersonate – and who to target with the scam.
How The Scam Usually Plays Out
Step 1: Your auto-reply message is sent. Step 2: A hacker uses it to impersonate you or the alternate contact you listed. Step 3: They send an “urgent” e-mail requesting a wire transfer, password or sensitive document. Step 4: Your coworker, caught off guard, assumes it’s legit. Step 5: You come back from vacation to find out someone sent $45,000 to “a vendor.” This happens more frequently than you might think, and it is even riskier for businesses that travel. If your company has staff who travel often, especially executives or sales teams, and someone else handles communications while they’re away (like a personal assistant or office admin), this creates prime conditions for cybercriminals:- The admin is fielding e-mails from multiple people
- They’re used to handling payments, documents or sensitive requests
- They’re working fast, trusting the people they think they’re hearing from
How To Protect Your Business from Auto-Reply Exploits
The solution isn’t to ditch OOO replies altogether – it’s to use them wisely and put safeguards in place. Here are a few suggestions:- Keep It Vague
- Train Your Team
- Never act on urgent requests involving money or sensitive info based on e-mail alone
- Always verify unusual requests through a second channel (like a phone call)
- Implement E-mail Security Tools
- Use MFA Everywhere
- Work With an IT Partner Who Monitors Activity