Passport data hacked for 300,000 European travellers
Published: 23/04/2026
| The Guardian
A personal data breach at Eurail has exposed the data of 300,000 European travellers. The incident, which occurred in December, involved the theft of sensitive information, including passport numbers, names, home addresses, dates of birth, and contact details. Eurail recently confirmed that the data is being offered for sale on the dark web, with a sample available on Telegram.
The UK Passport Office has advised at least one affected customer to cancel their passport to prevent fraudulent activity, requiring the individual to pay the full £102 replacement fee. Similar costs are reported elsewhere, with one traveller in Denmark facing a replacement bill exceeding £200. The Home Office has maintained that such costs are a matter for the applicant or the third party responsible for the breach.
Eurail is currently notifying those affected and has urged customers to remain vigilant against suspicious communications and to update passwords for its Rail Planner app, along with banking and social media accounts.
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