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Booking.com targeted in EU investigation into phishing scams, fraudulent listings

The probe will test whether Booking.com failed to curb fake listings, phishing scams and paid rankings, with potential fines of up to 6% of annual turnover.

  • On Wednesday, the European Commission launched an investigation into Booking under the Digital Services Act to determine if the platform adequately mitigates fraudulent listings and phishing scams.
  • A Dutch consumers report recorded a "tenfold" increase in fraud notifications this year compared to 2025, with losses in the region of €82,000 on Booking.
  • The Commission is examining whether Booking properly identified risks from fake listings and impersonation fraud, while investigating if paid "boosted listings" are clearly identifiable as advertisements.
  • Under the Digital Services Act, Booking Holdings could face fines of up to 6 per cent of global annual turnover if officials conclude anti-fraud measures are "absolutely substandard."
  • EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen stated, "Europeans should be able to book their holidays without fear of being scammed," as the Commission conducts an "in-depth investigation as a matter of priority.
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It is one of the most used websites in Europe for booking hotels by tourists: the US giant Booking.com is the subject of an investigation by the European Commission. Brussels suspects the platform not to protect its customers enough against fraudulent ads.

·Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
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The European Commission has opened an investigation against Booking.com on the basis of the Digital Services Act (DSA), suspecting that the platform has not taken sufficient action against fraud and false hosting ads. The investigation also aims at the security of personal data and transparency of promotion, the company risking massive financial sanctions. Article EU investigates Booking.com because of record fraud: "What they did is absolutely …

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Terra broke the news on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
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