Travelodge adds its name to growing data breach list

Budget hotel chain Travelodge has become the latest well known firm to have to hold its hands up to a data breach after it revealed some customers had become victims of a spam attack.

In an email sent to customers from its chief executive Guy Parsons the hotelier revealed limited details of the attack trying to calm users by promising that no financial information or customer data had been compromised.

"All financial data (including credit card information) is compliant with current best practice standards and is audited to PCI (Payment Card Industry) requirements," Pearson wrote.

The firm is holding an investigation into the issue but has warned people to be on the look out for spam emails that tell the user they are being offered a job that could provide them with a decent income for just a few hours work a week.

"A small number of you may have received a spam email via the email address you have registered with us," the email warned and Pearson told customers to delete the email and not to reply to the scam.

Travelodge joins a growing list of retailers and house hold names that have been hit by data breaches just this year with Sony, Play.com and RSA just a few of those that have had to send similar emails to customers.

The security channel has understandably been put on alert to help customers overcome data breaches and to protect users that could potentially fall victim to the problems.