May 26, 2025
🎯 Why Cybercriminals Love OOO Messages
A typical OOO message can include:
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Your full name and title
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Exact dates you're unavailable
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Names and emails of coworkers
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Internal structures or delegation of info
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Even travel details ("At a trade show in Chicago...")
This data hands attackers two big advantages:
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Timing - They know you're distracted or unavailable.
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Targeting - They know who to impersonate and who to target next.
🎭 How the Scam Works
It's called a Business Email Compromise (BEC). Here's how it usually goes:
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Your auto-reply goes out to someone suspicious.
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The hacker impersonates you or your backup contact.
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They send an urgent email requesting sensitive info, login credentials, or a wire transfer.
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Your team member, unaware and trying to be helpful, complies.
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You return to a financial or data disaster.
This happens more often than you think, especially in industries where execs and sales teams travel frequently.
🛡️ How to Protect Your Business from OOO Exploits
You don't need to stop using OOO messages, just use them smartly and layer in protection:
1. ✂️ Keep It Vague
Avoid naming coworkers or detailing travel plans.
Safer Version:
"I'm currently out of the office and will reply when I return. For immediate needs, please contact our main office at [main contact info]."
2. 🧠 Train Your Team
Make sure staff know to:
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Never act on urgent requests via email without verification.
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Always double-check through a phone call or internal chat.
3. 🔐 Implement Strong Email Security
Use email filtering, anti-spoofing measures, and domain monitoring tools to stop impersonation attacks in their tracks.
4. 🔑 Use MFA (Everywhere!)
Multi-Factor Authentication adds a crucial second layer. Even if a password leaks, it keeps hackers out.
5. 👁️ Work with a Proactive IT Partner
A true cybersecurity partner will monitor logins, flag suspicious activity, and act before damage is done.
✅ Want to Vacation Without Becoming a Target?
At Dragonfly MSP, we help small businesses build security systems that don't take time off—even when you do.
Click to schedule your FREE Security Assessment.
We'll check for weaknesses and show you how to lock down your digital environment, so you can actually relax.