New online scam: your hotel reservations are being targeted

New online scam: your hotel reservations are being targeted

A new form of online fraud is currently targeting travelers by using real hotel reservation information to deceive customers.

According to a column by Raphaël Desmarais-Bussières, fraudsters are managing to gain access to the reservation systems of certain establishments in order to obtain client lists and their stay details. Armed with this authentic information, they then send text messages or emails that appear to come directly from the hotel.

Victims receive messages containing the correct hotel name, accurate dates, and real reservation details. The message typically asks them to confirm a credit card under the pretext of validating the booking or preventing its cancellation. A link is then provided, leading to a fake website that imitates the hotel’s official site.

Once banking information is entered, it is captured by the fraudsters.

Experts emphasize that this type of scam relies on social engineering, exploiting consumers’ trust and a sense of urgency. The use of real data makes the fraud particularly convincing and difficult to detect.

To protect yourself, it is recommended to carefully verify the sender of messages, examine any links provided, and, above all, contact the hotel directly if in doubt. Hotels generally do not ask for credit card revalidation via text message or messaging apps.

This scam is a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant, even when communications appear completely legitimate.