EU Opens Probe Into Booking.com Fraud Handling
The European Commission is investigating how the travel platform handles fraudulent listings and whether paid search rankings are clearly labelled.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Financial Crime
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The European Commission has opened an investigation under the Digital Services Act into Booking.com over its handling of fraud and scams, which it described as absolutely substandard. Suspected fraud cases on the platform have increased sharply this year.
Why it matters
Fraudulent listings, including properties that do not exist and accounts taken over by criminals impersonating owners, put travellers and property owners at financial risk. The probe also examines whether paid ranking arrangements are clearly identified as advertisements.
The European Commission has launched a formal investigation under the Digital Services Act, with an in-depth probe to include further requests for information, interviews and inspections. Booking.com says it is cooperating fully, and no findings or penalties have been announced.
The players
European Commission
The executive body of the European Union, responsible for enforcing the Digital Services Act against large online platforms.
Booking.com
A Netherlands-headquartered online travel platform connecting travellers with accommodation listings worldwide.
The details
Scammers advertise rental properties they have no connection to and take control of genuine owners' accounts to impersonate them when requesting payments from customers. A Booking.com spokesperson said the company is cooperating fully with the Commission.
Timeline
First part of 2026: Dutch consumer report records 1,072 reports involving Booking.com.
2026: Suspected Booking.com fraud cases increase sharply during the year.
2026: European Commission opens its investigation under the Digital Services Act.
Legal Context
The investigation is being carried out under the Digital Services Act, the EU framework that places obligations on large online platforms to police illegal content and disclose advertising. Online fraud losses reached €4.2 billion in 2024 according to European Central Bank figures, placing platform-enabled scams within a wider enforcement push.
Travellers booking accommodation should verify that listings and payment requests come through the official platform, since criminals are impersonating legitimate owners. Property owners should watch for unexpected requests for additional payments made through their accounts.
The takeaway
Before paying for any accommodation online, confirm the booking within the platform itself and be cautious of any request to pay outside it. Suspicious messages claiming to come from a host are a common warning sign.
Further reading
Explore more on Financial Crime to see how online scams and fraud are being tackled across the sector.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TheLiberal.
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