Booking.com fraud cases and financial losses surge

Fraudulent activities on Booking.com have seen a significant increase, according to data from the Dutch fraud reporting center, Fraudehelpdesk. In the first half of 2026, 957 phishing reports were recorded, compared to 162 in the second half of 2025.

Criminals are employing various tactics, including hacking legitimate hotel accounts or creating fake listings using stolen photos and descriptions. Victims are often contacted directly and directed to counterfeit websites to complete payments outside of official channels. In some cases, travelers find that booked accommodations do not exist or that provided access codes are invalid.

Economic damages have risen sharply; total losses in the first six months of 2026 have already exceeded €82,000, surpassing the total recorded for the entire year of 2025 (€75,000). Booking.com stated that it verifies accommodations during and after registration to identify fraudulent activity and removes listings once issues are identified, noting that they take cybercrime "utmost seriously."