Polish hotels targeted by cyber‑fraud scheme exploiting reservation data

A recent cyber‑attack compromised an external reservation‑management service used by many hotels in Poland. Criminals obtained guest data and began sending fraudulent e‑mail and SMS messages that mimic official hotel communications. The messages claim sudden payment problems and demand that recipients click a link and immediately transfer additional funds to keep their bookings. All money sent in this way goes directly to the scammers.

Authorities advise travelers to treat any unexpected payment request with suspicion: do not click links, verify the reservation directly with the hotel using verified contact details, and contact their bank to block or reverse transactions. Victims should also retain all correspondence and report the fraud to the police.

The warning highlights the need for heightened vigilance during the holiday season, as scammers increasingly exploit stolen reservation data to lure tourists into paying for non‑existent bookings.