Booking.com scammers con over 500 holidaymakers out of £370k by hacking hotel providers

Scammers have fleeced at least 532 travellers out of £370,000 after hacking their way into hotel accounts – customers then receive emails from a fake account operated by a crime gang

Booking.com fraudsters are leaving Brits facing holiday hell, police have warned. Scammers have fleeced at least 532 travellers out of £370,000 after hacking their way into hotel accounts.

They then send out emails to customers with reservations purporting to be from online travel agent Booking.com asking for payment and credit card details. But it is a bogus account operated by scammers, police say.

Victims have lost money, handed over their cash card details and may miss out on legitimate holidays they mistakenly believe they have paid for.

Police say Booking.com’s account has not been breached. Instead criminals unleashed an online phishing attack on hotel and accommodation providers who accept bookings via the travel agent.