Overview

• This month fraudsters shifted from email and SMS to WhatsApp to target vacationers with messages containing accurate booking details that mimic hotel communications.
• They employ psychological pressure, warning of canceled reservations unless victims respond immediately.
• Embedded links direct users to fake sites designed to harvest sensitive personal and financial information.
• Earlier breaches at booking platforms and mobile banking malware campaigns supply scammers with reservation data.
• IT experts advise travelers to use only official platform channels, verify messages by calling hotels directly and never click on unsolicited links.