Hackers Compromise Hotel Portal To Target Booking.com Clients
Travelers using Booking.com have reported being targeted by scammers who manipulate payment expectations during the booking process. Fraudsters reportedly use WhatsApp to move conversations off-platform, leading users to make unauthorized payments under the guise of paying at the hotel. Booking.com stated that while online fraud is a widespread industry challenge, their own systems have not been breached. Hackers obtained login credentials for a hotel portal to send fraudulent communications to clients. The attackers use the portal access to send emails via booking.com requesting additional payments or claiming price increases. The scheme also involves sending fraudulent text messages to the hotel's client base.
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Sources · 7 independent
BBC Radio 4
“As soon as you mention WhatsApp and going off platform, that's when it's dodgy. Well, Booking.com's systems have not been breached themselves.”
RNZ National
“they've duped this hotel, the hotel has a login, a portal They grabbed those credentials. So then now that the hackers have that, they're effectively able to send out emails on this hotel's request via booking.com”
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