According to a study published in October by the IT security company ESET, the scale of cyber attacks targeting accommodation platforms such as Booking.com and Airbnb increased significantly in 2024. Fraudsters, exploiting the activity of travelers during the summer season, have found new ways to cheat money by manipulating consumer trust and advanced technology. Lithuanian users should also be vigilant when using these and similar platforms, because they are popular in our country, and fraud methods are becoming more professional and harder to recognize.
Fraud tactics on accommodation platforms
One of the most common types of scams is fake hotel or apartment ads with links to fake websites in their descriptions. Websites that look reliable, but created by criminals, ask you to enter your bank card or personal data for booking accommodation.
As noted by NOD Baltic’s senior cyber security engineer and ESET expert Ramūnas Liubertas, often deceived people share this information on social networks – some warn others, others ask for help. “Recently, I myself had to help my relatives because they were deceived by booking apartments near the Baltic Sea in Liepaja, Latvia,” the cyber security engineer shared his personal experience and told how he got caught in this case.
In this particular case, the fraudsters acted very professionally: the owner of the vacation apartment placed a rental ad with photos and a contact phone number on the Airbnb platform, and the very next day an identical ad appeared on the Booking platform as well – it was uploaded by the fraudsters. However, on another platform, the offer price was lower, so the relatives rushed to make the reservation, make the order, without even thinking that something could be wrong. As soon as they received the order, the scammers immediately removed the fake ad. When the relatives contacted the owner of the apartment about the arrival details, she was surprised that the same ad appeared on another platform and refused to accept the relative’s family because she had not received any order.”
What do you need to know before booking?
Before purchasing an accommodation service, cyber security engineer R. Liubertas emphasizes that users should always remain alert. Before booking accommodation, a cyber security expert advises you to check when a particular ad was posted. If the post was published a few days ago, it is possible that the accommodation is offered by a new user of the platform, but if the post was uploaded a few hours or minutes ago, you should take your time and make sure that it is not really a scam.
“Accommodation service platforms are looking for ways to fight fraud and protect users, so when a complaint is received or a suspicious account is found, it should be removed, but it may take some time, and criminals are always clever and find ways to get around it,” – explains R. Liubertas.
It is also worth considering how many reviews specific accommodation objects have, as a low number or their absence is often characteristic of “offers” created by fraudsters. It is also worth remembering that the fraudsters who created the fake ad may also write false reviews themselves in order to increase its credibility.
“Very often, people fall into the traps of online fraudsters in a hurry. As soon as the payment is made, the tension subsides, that you managed to grab a good offer, the realization comes that something is wrong after all. As soon as you suspect that you may have been scammed, immediately contact the administrator of the accommodation service platform and your bank. However, lost money is often not returned to the host, especially if reported late. In the case of my relatives, they managed to get their money back in a couple of weeks only because they applied and made the payment on time through the official accommodation platform”, explains R. Liubertas.
5 steps to protect yourself when booking accommodation
Cybersecurity engineer R. Liubertas points out several basic steps that users should take in order to protect their accounts on accommodation platforms:
1. Use strong and unique passwords and change them regularly;
2. Activate two-factor authentication (2FA);
3. Check the posting time of the ad and the amount of feedback;
4. Never share payment details outside the platform;
5. Report any suspicious activity to official customer service.
“If a user uses the same password on multiple sites and doesn’t have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled, if the password is leaked on at least one platform, it can be used on others. Most reservation platforms offer the 2FA function for free, so it is recommended to activate it, R. Liubertas emphasizes. “It’s also important to change passwords regularly, use unique passwords for each account, and store them in password management apps to avoid losing them.”
As Airbnb and Booking inform on their websites, these accommodation companies are looking for measures to reduce the risk of fraud and encourage users to report fake ads.
window.fbAsyncInit = function() {
FB.init({
appId: ‘117218911630016’,
version: ‘v2.10’,
status: true,
cookie: false,
xfbml: true
});
};
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) {
return;
}
js = d.createElement(s);
js.id = id;
js.src = “https://connect.facebook.net/lt_LT/sdk.js”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
#stay #money #accommodation #important #steps #accommodation #platforms #Business
**Interview with Cybersecurity Expert Ramūnas Liubertas on Rising Fraud in Accommodation Platforms**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Ramūnas. We’ve seen a significant rise in cyber attacks targeting accommodation platforms like Booking.com and Airbnb. What are you noticing about these scams?
**Ramūnas Liubertas:** Thank you for having me. Yes, the study from ESET highlights a troubling trend—fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated. They exploit busy travel seasons and manipulate consumer trust through fake advertisements that lead to counterfeit websites.
**Interviewer:** Can you describe some specific tactics that scammers are using on these platforms?
**Ramūnas Liubertas:** Certainly. One common tactic is creating fake listings for hotels or apartments, which often include links to fake websites. These sites can look very legitimate and request sensitive information like bank card details or personal data. Scammers may even post identical ads on multiple platforms, but at different prices to entice customers, leading to fast bookings without proper verification.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned a personal experience where your family fell victim to such a scam. Can you tell us what happened?
**Ramūnas Liubertas:** Yes. My relatives were looking to book a vacation apartment in Liepaja, Latvia. They found a listing on Airbnb and booked it, but the same apartment had an identical ad on Booking.com for a lower price. They rushed to secure the deal without double-checking. After booking, they contacted the real owner and were shocked to learn she had no knowledge of their reservation.
**Interviewer:** That sounds frustrating. What advice do you have for travelers to avoid falling into similar traps?
**Ramūnas Liubertas:** Always be vigilant before booking. Check when the listing was posted. If it appears very recent, take extra time to verify its legitimacy. Look for reviews—few or no reviews are red flags. Also, avoid hasty decisions driven by urgency, as this is when many get scammed. If something doesn’t feel right after a payment, contact the platform and your bank immediately.
**Interviewer:** Are there any specific security tips you can provide for safely using accommodation platforms?
**Ramūnas Liubertas:** Definitely. Here are five key steps:
1. Use strong, unique passwords and change them regularly.
2. Enable two-factor authentication if possible.
3. Be cautious with personal information—don’t provide details until you’re certain of the platform’s legitimacy.
4. Always review listings carefully.
5. Report suspicious activity to the platform immediately.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for these important insights, Ramūnas. It sounds like being informed and cautious is key to staying safe while booking travel accommodations.
**Ramūnas Liubertas:** Absolutely, staying informed is the best defense against fraud. Thank you for the opportunity to share this critical information.
