Booking.com scam - beware
Discussion
Had a Whatsapp message yesterday that told me one of my hotel bookings still needed additional information, and if I didn't provide it the booking wasn't guaranteed to remain.
It used my full name, the hotel we have booked and the dates that we are there.
Although I "never click on links in messages" - it fooled me enough that I did. It was only when it took me to a Booking.com page asking for my credit card details - for a hotel I've already paid for - that I realised it was a scam.
I'm actually surprised I was dumb enough to click the link - especially since the Whatsapp was from a random UK number, and I'd already noticed that they'd only been on Whatsapp since May....... (although it did show as a business account).
I thought I was wise enough to these scams to spot them instantly - but seeing my actual booking details in the text made me ignore common sense..... Stil, lesson learned.
Anyway - this is just a warning. A quick google search showed it's a known scam where they've hacked into Booking.com to get details - which makes the text a lot more convincing.
It used my full name, the hotel we have booked and the dates that we are there.
Although I "never click on links in messages" - it fooled me enough that I did. It was only when it took me to a Booking.com page asking for my credit card details - for a hotel I've already paid for - that I realised it was a scam.
I'm actually surprised I was dumb enough to click the link - especially since the Whatsapp was from a random UK number, and I'd already noticed that they'd only been on Whatsapp since May....... (although it did show as a business account).
I thought I was wise enough to these scams to spot them instantly - but seeing my actual booking details in the text made me ignore common sense..... Stil, lesson learned.
Anyway - this is just a warning. A quick google search showed it's a known scam where they've hacked into Booking.com to get details - which makes the text a lot more convincing.
Booking.com is in itself a scam in my opinion.
Always better to book direct with the hotel.
In my experience you often get a better rate (the hotel has to pay commission to Booking.com) and terms are better- often cancellations are easier & at no cost when booked direct.
I use Booking.com to see what’s available in the area & then go direct to the hotel / accommodation that best suits.
Always better to book direct with the hotel.
In my experience you often get a better rate (the hotel has to pay commission to Booking.com) and terms are better- often cancellations are easier & at no cost when booked direct.
I use Booking.com to see what’s available in the area & then go direct to the hotel / accommodation that best suits.
KarmaMechanic said:
Booking.com is in itself a scam in my opinion.
Always better to book direct with the hotel.
In my experience you often get a better rate (the hotel has to pay commission to Booking.com) and terms are better- often cancellations are easier & at no cost when booked direct.
I use Booking.com to see what s available in the area & then go direct to the hotel / accommodation that best suits.
That's not been my experience with Booking.com.Always better to book direct with the hotel.
In my experience you often get a better rate (the hotel has to pay commission to Booking.com) and terms are better- often cancellations are easier & at no cost when booked direct.
I use Booking.com to see what s available in the area & then go direct to the hotel / accommodation that best suits.
Not once have I found it cheaper checking the hotel's own website, and I've never had any problems cancelling within their timeframe.
Over the years we've had some utter bargains booking way ahead.
Trevor555 said:
That's not been my experience with Booking.com.
Not once have I found it cheaper checking the hotel's own website, and I've never had any problems cancelling within their timeframe.
Over the years we've had some utter bargains booking way ahead.
Same experience here with booking.comNot once have I found it cheaper checking the hotel's own website, and I've never had any problems cancelling within their timeframe.
Over the years we've had some utter bargains booking way ahead.
davek_964 said:
Had a Whatsapp message yesterday that told me one of my hotel bookings still needed additional information, and if I didn't provide it the booking wasn't guaranteed to remain.
It used my full name, the hotel we have booked and the dates that we are there.
Although I "never click on links in messages" - it fooled me enough that I did. It was only when it took me to a Booking.com page asking for my credit card details - for a hotel I've already paid for - that I realised it was a scam.
I'm actually surprised I was dumb enough to click the link - especially since the Whatsapp was from a random UK number, and I'd already noticed that they'd only been on Whatsapp since May....... (although it did show as a business account).
I thought I was wise enough to these scams to spot them instantly - but seeing my actual booking details in the text made me ignore common sense..... Stil, lesson learned.
Anyway - this is just a warning. A quick google search showed it's a known scam where they've hacked into Booking.com to get details - which makes the text a lot more convincing.
Last week I had this as well. What is slightly odd is that I had booked directly with the hotel, with no involvement with Booking.com at all. It was quickly resolved with the hotel, and they said this scam had been happening a lot. It used my full name, the hotel we have booked and the dates that we are there.
Although I "never click on links in messages" - it fooled me enough that I did. It was only when it took me to a Booking.com page asking for my credit card details - for a hotel I've already paid for - that I realised it was a scam.
I'm actually surprised I was dumb enough to click the link - especially since the Whatsapp was from a random UK number, and I'd already noticed that they'd only been on Whatsapp since May....... (although it did show as a business account).
I thought I was wise enough to these scams to spot them instantly - but seeing my actual booking details in the text made me ignore common sense..... Stil, lesson learned.
Anyway - this is just a warning. A quick google search showed it's a known scam where they've hacked into Booking.com to get details - which makes the text a lot more convincing.
Trevor555 said:
KarmaMechanic said:
Booking.com is in itself a scam in my opinion.
Always better to book direct with the hotel.
In my experience you often get a better rate (the hotel has to pay commission to Booking.com) and terms are better- often cancellations are easier & at no cost when booked direct.
I use Booking.com to see what s available in the area & then go direct to the hotel / accommodation that best suits.
That's not been my experience with Booking.com.Always better to book direct with the hotel.
In my experience you often get a better rate (the hotel has to pay commission to Booking.com) and terms are better- often cancellations are easier & at no cost when booked direct.
I use Booking.com to see what s available in the area & then go direct to the hotel / accommodation that best suits.
Not once have I found it cheaper checking the hotel's own website, and I've never had any problems cancelling within their timeframe.
Over the years we've had some utter bargains booking way ahead.
I have been subject to a scam at one hotel we booked at through booking.com about 2 years ago; there were constant messages about reconfirming the (paid for) booking or it wouldn’t be honoured. It smelt wrong so I called the hotel directly and they confirmed it wasn’t them and that many guests had called with similar issues. They were very dismissive that they’d been hacked so I decided it would be better to cancel the reservation and go elsewhere.
Yep, between booking.com and other similar sites, it's extremely rare for me to find that booking direct is better value, I'm not sure why that still comes up quite often.
That's not so say there can't be advantages, such as more direct customer service and bring able to use proprietary loyalty schemes.
The annoying thing is having to check a few different options to get thd best price, and Google maps not letting you choose which sites are integrated into it, so searching for hotels in a city always brings up what look like good deals from completely unknown companies I don't want to deal with.
That's not so say there can't be advantages, such as more direct customer service and bring able to use proprietary loyalty schemes.
The annoying thing is having to check a few different options to get thd best price, and Google maps not letting you choose which sites are integrated into it, so searching for hotels in a city always brings up what look like good deals from completely unknown companies I don't want to deal with.
Friend of mine had the same thing 2 weeks ago relating to a Booking.com booking. Unless you're booking is for a very small B&B in Scotland looks more like Booking.com have a massive, and likely ongoing data leak. Just one accomodation provider and you'd say more likely they'd been hacked, multiple providers though...
And as for Booking.com being a scam it's not a scam - but neither is it always the cheapest. Always worth trying to get prices from at least 2 booking agents, I usually use Booking.com and Expedia for example, and also going to the accomodation direct. Sometimes it makes no difference, sometimes Booking.com/Expedia/direct is cheaper. Certainly I've always saved booking direct for self catering ski apartments as property owners just decide their base price then list it on multiple platforms at base price + that site's commission so their take home is the same regardless how you book - and obviously they don't have to pay anyone commission if you book direct.
The only one I have found to be a scam is Trivago. All those expensive TV adverts telling you "You didn't try Trivago?" but every time I have it's been the most expensive - even when Trivago's cheapest is via Expedia I get a cheaper price searching on Expedia directly!
And as for Booking.com being a scam it's not a scam - but neither is it always the cheapest. Always worth trying to get prices from at least 2 booking agents, I usually use Booking.com and Expedia for example, and also going to the accomodation direct. Sometimes it makes no difference, sometimes Booking.com/Expedia/direct is cheaper. Certainly I've always saved booking direct for self catering ski apartments as property owners just decide their base price then list it on multiple platforms at base price + that site's commission so their take home is the same regardless how you book - and obviously they don't have to pay anyone commission if you book direct.
The only one I have found to be a scam is Trivago. All those expensive TV adverts telling you "You didn't try Trivago?" but every time I have it's been the most expensive - even when Trivago's cheapest is via Expedia I get a cheaper price searching on Expedia directly!
The G Kid said:
Trevor555 said:
That's not been my experience with Booking.com.
Not once have I found it cheaper checking the hotel's own website, and I've never had any problems cancelling within their timeframe.
Over the years we've had some utter bargains booking way ahead.
Same experience here with booking.comNot once have I found it cheaper checking the hotel's own website, and I've never had any problems cancelling within their timeframe.
Over the years we've had some utter bargains booking way ahead.
Generally use it to find hotels in places i don't know, then check online direct but rarely are booking beaten for me, also excellent service if there are issues.
Trevor555 said:
That's not been my experience with Booking.com.
Not once have I found it cheaper checking the hotel's own website, and I've never had any problems cancelling within their timeframe.
Over the years we've had some utter bargains booking way ahead.
My (albeit relatively limited) experience is that it is possible to get a better rate booking direct with the hotel. Which makes perfect sense; the hotel pays a significant commission to them, so you immediately have some leverage to obtain or negotiate a better rate. This works especially if you're wanting a longer stay and if you 'phone the hotel and speak to an actual person.Not once have I found it cheaper checking the hotel's own website, and I've never had any problems cancelling within their timeframe.
Over the years we've had some utter bargains booking way ahead.
Using Booking.com also often precludes you from future 'loyalty' deals. A few places I use offer a 10% or more discount for future direct bookings, issuing a code issued at the conclusion of the initial stay.
Cancellation terms are in my experience usually better when booking direct, and even if they aren't you're in a much better position pleading your case direct with the hotel rather than via a faceless website with little / no opportunity to speak to someone.
I'm sure there are cracking advance deals available via Booking.com- but logically the same or better deal must be available direct from the hotel as they're then not chucking a wedge of commission.
I think they're leeches and with a tiny bit of extra effort you can often secure a better deal overall.
Oh and you're less likely to be scammed as you haven't provided your personal details to another third party.
Just my opinion and experience- others will undoubtedly differ.
E-bmw said:
My experience also.
Generally use it to find hotels in places i don't know, then check online direct but rarely are booking beaten for me, also excellent service if there are issues.
Same for us Generally use it to find hotels in places i don't know, then check online direct but rarely are booking beaten for me, also excellent service if there are issues.
Use Booking to source hotels, then book direct. Although I am also using Google maps as well.
This scam has been running for a few months. There is a Booking.com sub-Reddit with plenty of horror stories.
KarmaMechanic said:
Cancellation terms are in my experience usually better when booking direct, and even if they aren't you're in a much better position pleading your case direct with the hotel rather than via a faceless website with little / no opportunity to speak to someone.
When you move up the genus levels you get a direct phone number to speak to a human to resolve any issues.I've used it twice.
Booking.com were hacked a couple of months back so may be related.
I used to find it was cheaper booking direct with hotels (especially at short notice) but since the pandemic they don't seem to be competitive, I usually use Google maps and it finds the best prices across multiple aggregators, rarely is booking.com the cheapest.
I used to find it was cheaper booking direct with hotels (especially at short notice) but since the pandemic they don't seem to be competitive, I usually use Google maps and it finds the best prices across multiple aggregators, rarely is booking.com the cheapest.
untakenname said:
I used to find it was cheaper booking direct with hotels (especially at short notice) but since the pandemic they don't seem to be competitive, I usually use Google maps and it finds the best prices across multiple aggregators, rarely is booking.com the cheapest.
Thank you, I'll try that, and report back.Trevor555 said:
KarmaMechanic said:
Cancellation terms are in my experience usually better when booking direct, and even if they aren't you're in a much better position pleading your case direct with the hotel rather than via a faceless website with little / no opportunity to speak to someone.
When you move up the genus levels you get a direct phone number to speak to a human to resolve any issues.I've used it twice.
craig1912 said:
Had the same thing a couple of months ago and I d booked direct. There was a hack of a third party hotel booking system (which can be utilised by booking.com too).
As an aside we do use booking.com too and have never had an issue with them.
We had the same with a hotel in France booked direct - I got emails and WhatsApp messages ‘wanting additional customer information’ otherwise my booking would be cancelled. The WhatsApps came from a random mobile number from Holland, which set alarm bells going. Spoke to the hotel direct who confirmed it was a scam, and the result of an industry-wide booking system that had been hacked. As an aside we do use booking.com too and have never had an issue with them.
Bottom line is always dyor and verification separate from any direct contact methods and never click links etc - seems obvious but it’s surprising how many companies still communicate in this way - sending links to mobiles/ email addresses!
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