Online platforms like Booking are quite useful in our day-to-day lives, assisting us with finding lodging in foreign countries and cities, making our journeys way easier. Now we can book accommodation for our travels in a few clicks in the app or on a website. However, the rise of these platforms has also led to a surge in online scams. As such, it’s essential to stay vigilant against the notorious “booking com scam”. This article aims to delve deep into the various types of scams associated with Booking.com, how they operate, and how you can protect yourself.
What is Booking.com and why is it targeted by bad actors
Booking.com is a well-known and trusted platform for reserving accommodations worldwide. It offers a vast selection of properties, including hotels, guest houses, and vacation homes, making it a favorite among travelers.
Despite its reliability and popularity, the platform has been exploited by cyber criminals, resulting in the infamous “booking com scams” you may have heard about on their own forum, or god forbid have experienced yourself. This scam involves fraudsters posing as legitimate property owners or Booking.com representatives to deceive unsuspecting users. In many cases, Booking serves as a medium between the business/property owner and a client. So, there are certain dangers that can arise.
Different Types of Booking.com Scams
It’s crucial to understand the different types of Booking.com scams out there. These scams can take various forms, but the most common ones include phishing scams, payment scams, and survey scams.
Phishing Scams
In a phishing scam, fraudsters attempt to steal your personal information or money by impersonating someone else. They often disguise themselves as Booking.com representatives or property owners and send emails, text messages, or make calls to trick you into sharing sensitive information. What scammers will usually do is try to make you click a phishing link that will look like a Booking com link, but have some difference in the way of spelling, like “Boooking” or have a word or two after “Booking” in the link. Make sure NOT to open those links.
Payment Scams
Payment scams typically involve fraudsters tricking guests into making payments outside of the official booking platform. They usually send a message through the platform or email, asking guests to complete their payment through a different method or website. Usually, they will contact you asking if you can pay outside of the Booking com system, explaining that their bank account is linked with a different website yada yada. Ignore requests like these and never pay outside the system, or you’ll simply lose money and won’t have a place to stay. This type of scam occurs more and more lately, so be extremely cautious.
Identifying Signs of a Scam
To protect yourself from falling victim to a booking com scam, it’s essential to recognize the signs of a scam. Here are a few red flags to look out for:
Suspicious Emails or Messages
One common sign of a scam is receiving suspicious emails or messages. These messages often have a sense of urgency, pressuring you to take immediate action. They could ask you to verify your booking, provide your bank details, or make a payment.
Misspellings and Grammatical Errors
Another sign to watch out for is misspellings and grammatical errors in the messages or emails you receive. Professional companies like Booking.com ensure their communications are well-written and error-free.
Unusual Payment Requests
If you receive a request to make a payment through a method not officially supported by Booking.com, it’s likely a scam. Remember, Booking.com doesn’t ask for payments to be made outside of their platform.
Steps to Protect Yourself from Booking.com Scams
Armed with the knowledge of what to look out for, let’s discuss the steps you can take to safeguard yourself from these scams.
Be Wary of Suspicious Emails and Messages
Always scrutinize any emails or messages you receive related to your bookings. Be wary of any message that asks for personal or financial information or urges you to take immediate action.
Check the Sender’s Email Address
Before engaging with any email, double-check the sender’s email address. Legitimate emails from Booking.com should come from an official Booking.com email address.
Use Secure Payment Methods
Always use the secure payment methods provided by Booking.com. Avoid making payments outside of the platform, no matter how convincing the request may seem.
Regularly Update Your Passwords
Regularly updating your passwords is a good practice to maintain online security. Make sure your passwords are unique and not easily guessable.
Reporting a Booking.com Scam
If you suspect that you’ve been targeted by a booking.com scam, it’s essential to report it immediately. You can contact Booking.com’s customer service or report the issue to your local law enforcement agency.
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- Arsène MaliceArsène is a Kyiv-based staff writer for ZoogVPN, covering everything tech-related from VPN news and social media trends to cybersport events and geek culture. He’s written for several music magazines, and crypto and tech-oriented websites. He tries to keep his finger on the media’s pulse with varying success. You can catch him djing, playing volleyball, and rage-quitting a ranked game in League of Legends.
