Booking.com under investigation by EU regulators over fake listings and scams
Summary
The European Union's commission has started an investigation into Booking.com for not doing enough to stop fake listings and scams on its site. The investigation checks if Booking.com broke EU rules aimed at protecting internet users and if it properly warns customers about paid ads on the platform.Key Facts
- The EU suspects Booking.com may have broken the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires companies to prevent online fraud.
- Booking.com is accused of having weak systems to detect and stop fake listings and phishing scams.
- The European Commission may fine Booking.com up to 6% of its global yearly income if rules are broken.
- Booking.com says it is working with the EU and wants to protect travelers and their information.
- Some scams involve fake accommodation offers and "reservation hijacks," where scammers use stolen data to trick customers.
- The Dutch consumer group reported around 200 scam cases tied to Booking.com in 2025, costing victims about €65,000.
- Booking.com told the BBC it saw a large increase in scams recently, helped by AI tools that create realistic fake emails and booking links.
- EU officials are also checking if Booking.com is clear about which listings are paid ads.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
