Internet scams are known to be a dime a dozen. But this scam is particularly daring: criminals use a sophisticated trick to track down vacationers. A victim describes what happened.
Sun, beach and sea! The holiday season is already in full swing for thousands of Tyroleans, while others are still heading south, partly due to the gloomy weather of the past few days. Herbert Huber (name modified by the editors) is one of these last minute decision makers.
“Nice hotel booked through booking.com”
“I spontaneously decided to go to Italy for a weekend with my girlfriend and booked a nice hotel through Booking.com,” says the 31-year-old from Tyrol. As usual, the reservation went without a hitch. “I keep coming back to this portal because I think it’s simply the best,” emphasizes Huber.
But suddenly an alleged message from the hotel arrived in the online mailbox of the Tyrolean. “The credit card did not work and the reservation had to be declined,” the 31-year-old reads in the email. Fortunately, the accommodation the Tyroleans opted for immediately sent a link that apparently allowed the amount of money to be released.
“I became skeptical and immediately called the hotel”, Huber had the right instinct. Because with the alleged message with the renewed payment request, crooks naturally had their fingers in the pie. “Criminals are likely to use hacked or compromised booking accounts to try and trick guests who have booked a room into paying hotel fees a second time,” the experts at “Watchlist Internet” are also familiar with the latest scam from online scammers.
Extra caution is advised
Since the hackers have access to the affected hotels’ booking accounts, the messages are actually sent through the portal’s email addresses – just with a fake link. Therefore, as with other online companies, one should be skeptical when booking a hotel on the Internet. This is the only way you can enjoy your holiday.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
