EU launches investigation into Booking.com over fake listings and phishing scams
The European Commission has opened an investigation into whether Booking.com is doing enough to protect users from fraudulent accommodation listings and phishing scams under the EU's Digital Services Act.
The investigation, announced on October 21, follows a preliminary review and an assessment of risk reports submitted by the booking platform over the past four years, Reuters reported.
Regulators will examine how Booking.com handles fake listings for properties that do not exist, fraudsters impersonating legitimate accommodation providers, and listings that fail to comply with EU rules.
The investigation will also cover phishing scams that exploit reservation details and guest information shared with accommodation providers.
A third area of scrutiny involves paid listings promoted in search results without sufficiently clear advertising labels.
"Europeans should be able to book their holidays without fear of being scammed," EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said.
Booking.com said it was cooperating with the Commission and remained committed to protecting travelers and combating online fraud.
Under the Digital Services Act, major online platforms can face fines of up to 6% of their global annual turnover if violations are established.
The opening of the investigation does not mean Booking.com has been found to have violated EU law.