ISN Exclusive: MakeMyTrip's BookMyForex hit with security breach; Millions of users' data likely hacked

Cybersecurity attacks — in the wake of AI — are nothing new. But when it happens in a company, especially a consumer facing one, then the challenges are multifold. 

BookMyForex, the foreign exchange unit of MakeMyTrip (MMT), has been hit by a security breach and the data of tens of millions of users is at the risk of being compromised, if timely action is not taken, sources privy to confidential information informed IndianStartupNews (ISN). 

“The hack likely seems to have originated from a region in Brazil. It is also possible it has happened in another region but details and a confirmation are both awaited,” as per a source. 

For now, users are seeing their forex balances turning to zero, or are facing issues using the card while on travel. Things appear to have come to a standstill for BookMyForex. 

“Certain users are also getting debit messages on their phones while being thousands of miles away from the place the card is used at,” one more source said. 

Now, whether the balance – from customer wallets – is wiped out or is there a hacker group only causing glitches in the system remains to be ascertained. 

BookMyForex chose not to reply to ISN’s queries. We shall update the story in case the company responds. 

The company, based in Gurugram has millions of users including corporate partnerships, sim cards, forex cards reload and more. A timely and swift response from the company will ensure all the data is safeguarded and can be restored. 

For now, the website is up and running. Even customer care is active but is seeing at least a 3X increase in incoming traffic which has impacted operations.