While studying abroad in Eastern Europe, MMwi’s 21-year-old son took a weekend trip to Krakow, Poland, and stayed at the Little Havana Party Hostel. Like many young travelers, he joined the hostel’s organized pub crawl, which was meant to offer a secure way to experience local nightlife. During the night, he met a well-dressed couple who spoke perfect English and offered him a drink outside a liquor store. Shortly after consuming the shared drink, he blacked out. He woke up the next day in his hostel room, missing his new iPhone, ID, and all his credit and debit cards—though $100 worth of zloty had curiously been left in his wallet.
His symptoms went beyond a typical hangover, and his debit card had been drained of approximately $350 overnight. When pinged, his stolen phone had already reached Ukraine, suggesting a well-organized scam. The family expressed gratitude that his passport remained at the hostel and that Verizon was able to wipe the phone remotely. Other travelers reported similar experiences, including one Australian who claimed police in Krakow were unhelpful and possibly complicit. Although deeply shaken, the student made it home safely, and his parent shared the experience to warn other travelers: even organized pub crawls aren’t always safe, and drink spiking can happen quickly and discreetly—even in seemingly secure settings.
