Stay alert: Scammers try to collect tourist tax from guests staying in Budapest

Unknown perpetrators have created a fake website under the title “Budapest Capital’s local government tax payment gateway”, the Mayor’s Office told the Hungarian News Agency, MTI.

It was reported that through the mailing system of one of the world’s largest electronic booking companies, unknown persons asked a guest staying in Budapest to pay a tourist tax through the website.

The Municipality of the capital has pointed out that it does not collect taxes from people booking accommodation in the capital. It was stressed that tourism tax is only collected from accommodation providers by the district municipality responsible for the place where the accommodation is rented, Travelo writes.

The chief notary of the capital has filed a complaint in the case on suspicion of fraud and has initiated police action to suspend the website operator, the statement said.

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