Spanish police announced on Wednesday that they have arrested a 20-year-old man suspected of hacking a website to book luxury hotel rooms for just one cent each, in the first cybercrime of this kind.
It is believed the suspect manipulated the website’s electronic payment system, making alterations to the payment verification mechanism so that the bookings appeared fully paid.
However, all he actually paid was a trivial amount limited to one cent for rooms costing up to around a thousand euros per night.
Altering the payment verification system
Spanish police clarified that “this cyber attack specifically targeted altering the payment verification system, and this is the first time we have discovered a crime using this method.”
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They added that the young man also consumed items from the minibar during his stays and sometimes left bills unpaid.
Upon his arrest, he was staying in a luxury hotel in Madrid under a reservation for four nights with a total value of 4,000 euros.
Spain
Spain is a southwestern European country with a rich history shaped by successive influences, including Roman rule, Islamic Al-Andalus, and the unification of Christian kingdoms. Its cultural identity is deeply expressed through diverse regional traditions, world-renowned art and architecture, and landmarks like the Alhambra and Sagrada Família.
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain, with its historical roots dating back to the 9th century when it was founded as a Moorish fortress. It became the permanent seat of the Spanish court in 1561 under King Philip II, transforming it into a political and cultural center, which is reflected in landmarks like the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum.
Italy
Italy is a country in Southern Europe with a rich cultural history that dates back to the Roman Empire, which was one of the largest and most influential civilizations of antiquity. It later became the birthplace of the Renaissance, a period of immense artistic and scientific achievement centered in cities like Florence and Rome. Today, Italy is renowned for its historic landmarks, artistic treasures, and profound global influence on art, architecture, cuisine, and culture.
Canada
Canada is a North American country formed in 1867 through Confederation, evolving from earlier British and French colonial territories. It is known for its vast landscapes, multicultural society, and a constitutional monarchy that recognizes both English and French as official languages.
Greece
Greece is a southeastern European country renowned as the cradle of Western civilization, being the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, and the Olympic Games. Its history spans ancient Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations, the Classical Age of city-states like Athens and Sparta, and later periods under Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman rule before gaining independence in the 19th century. The country’s profound cultural legacy is physically embodied in iconic archaeological sites such as the Acropolis of Athens and the sanctuary of Delphi.
Portugal
Portugal is a country in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, with a history deeply shaped by its Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries when it established the first global maritime empire. Its cultural sites, such as the Jerónimos Monastery and Tower of Belém in Lisbon, are iconic Manueline-style monuments built to commemorate that era of exploration.
