Booking.com: A fresh fraud on a large scale. Check your reservation before you lose hundreds of gold!

Although the highest of the vacation period is coming to an end, September and October are inactive an perfect time for vacation in many parts of Europe. However, if you are planning to travel with a larger group of friends and book accommodation via Booking.com, you must take peculiar care. There's a fresh trickery on the horizon that could cost you extra unplanned expenses.

The case was made public by Konrad Karpieczuk on social media and rapidly captured by the portal "Danger.pl", known for monitoring cyber threats. Karpzewuk personally experienced this unpleasant surprise erstwhile he and a group of 7 friends reached a reserved hotel in Italy. On site, the hotel strategy only registered for 5 people, which forced the group Urgent payment of EUR 160 (about PLN 680) so everyone can be accommodated. This is not an isolated case, and signals point to a increasing problem.

How does fresh fraud work at Booking.com and who does it touch?

The mechanics of fresh fraud is amazingly simple, and thus hard to detect at first glance. According to Konrad Karpieczuk's account, a group of 7 people made reservations in Italy, following the standard procedure: Booking.com provides the destination and the exact number of participants and then selects the appropriate accommodation from the list of results. The problem didn't arise until the hotel was checked in, erstwhile the hotel staff reported the non-compliance.

There was a reservation for 5 people in the hotel system, not seven. Moreover, the author of the entry claims that there were besides 5 people in the confirmation sent by Booking.com, though the amount collected from the bank account corresponds to the reservation for 7 members of the departure. This discretion, where the booking strategy of the platform lowers the number of guests, despite the full charge, leads to the request to pay additional costs already on site. This is peculiarly severe for groups that frequently reserve larger apartments or rooms, hoping for a circumstantial cost per person.

Problem History: Why is Booking.com targeted?

Unfortunately, the problem with underselling the number of travellers is another item on the long list of challenges faced by Booking.com. Recently, the company has been repeatedly targeted by regulators and consumers, which undermines its credibility and autonomy in the eyes of users.

Let us remind that the Polish Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) late imposed a punishment on Booking.com for failing to comply with EU regulations. The platform did not make clear who the actual tenant was, which made it hard for consumers to prosecute their rights in the event of problems. This shows that Booking.com does not always work full transparently, which may encourage the emergence of specified gaps utilized by fraudsters.

In addition, the platform has long struggled with a wave of hacking attacks. Cybercriminals regularly take over the accounts of those offering accommodation and then send e-mails and messages to booked guests. The content of these messages frequently includes links to false pages suggesting the request for a repayment due to “the failure of the erstwhile transaction”. That's how payment cards are extorted. Recently, this wave of fraud has been heard in Cyprus, among others, where many tourists have fallen victim to this. These incidents build an image of a platform that, although popular, requires increased vigilance from users.

How to effectively defend yourself from fraud at Booking.com? applicable advice

In view of the expanding number of frauds, it is crucial to take proactive action to safe its vacation plans and finances. Here are the circumstantial steps you should take erstwhile booking your accommodation by Booking.com:

• Check the booking confirmation carefully: After booking, immediately and very carefully check each field in the confirmation received – both on the website and sent to your email address. Make certain that the number of people, dates, area kind and full amount are in accordance with your expectations. Even a slight incompatibility can be the signal of the problem.
• Pay by credit card: This is 1 of the most effective forms of protection. As Konrad Karpiesuk rightly pointed out, credit card payment allows you to usage the procedure chargeback. If the service has not been performed in accordance with the contract or an unauthorized charge has occurred, the bank may retreat the transaction and return the money to you. This is much more hard in the case of debit or transfer payments.
• Be alert to suspicious messages: Never click on the links to repayments that allegedly come from the object or Booking.com. The platform never asks for a repayment in this way. All transactions should only take place in the authoritative Booking.com system. If in doubt, contact the object straight (telephone, not by email from a suspicious message).
• Contact the property straight before arrival: Especially with group bookings, it is worth calling or sending an email straight to the hotel/apartment a fewer days before arrival to confirm booking details, including the exact number of guests. It's a simple act that can save you quite a few nerve and money on the spot.
• Document everything: Save all confirmations, screenshots from the booking process, correspondence with Booking.com and the object. In case of problems, this evidence will be crucial in the complaint process or chargeback.

The fresh scam at Booking.com poses a serious threat to travellers, especially those planning trips in a larger group. Although the platform remains a popular accommodation booking tool, the increasing number of problems and gaps in its systems require increased vigilance from users. With these safety principles in mind, you can importantly minimize the hazard of becoming a victim of fraud and enjoy a peaceful vacation without unforeseen expenses.