How to spot a hotel booking scam
Scammers are getting better and better at mimicking the look and feel of trustworthy websites, but there are things you can do to protect yourself against booking a hotel with a fraudulent site.
A beach house at a popular boutique hotel in Paia, Hawaii. According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, over 2.5 million fraudulent hotel bookings are made each year.
Travis Rowan/Paia Inn via AP/File
Scam hotel booking sites have been popping up all over the internet, and while they might聽look JUST like your favorite online travel agency, looks can be deceiving. Scammers are getting better and better at mimicking the look and feel of trustworthy websites.聽But there are things you can do to protect yourself against booking a hotel with a fraudulent site.
This problem has become so prevalent that聽聽on the subject聽in which they recommended booking directly with the hotel chain. Another way to be聽sure you're navigating to the right webpage is to use the URL on your rewards card. Most major chains will simply be the brand name plus a .com, like听辞谤听.
According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, over 2.5 million fraudulent bookings are made each year. Sometimes, you'll still get a room, just not the one you thought you booked. Imagine聽arriving on vacation with a family of five thinking you booked a two-room ocean-side suite, only to be presented with a room holding one queen-sized bed聽and a view of the parking lot.
One fraud prevention聽tactic聽I like to use is to call聽the hotel directly with the cheaper rate online. Many hotels will match a rate lower than their own, or even give you some money back with a "Best Price Guarantee." To take advantage of this, book a room聽directly through your hotel chain, and then send them an email within 24 hours with a screenshot and link of the lower price you found. Usually they'll match the price, and sometimes even give聽you a premium, like聽's 20聽percent聽bonus or 2,000 Starpoints.
Here are聽four ways to spot a hotel booking scam:
- Even if the site has official logos, it could be a fake.
- If the price seems to good to be true, it probably is.
- Check the URL - it's usually BrandName.com, not BrandName.WeirdWebsite.net.
- Major booking sites will have a secure connection - HTTPS.
Here are some official links to OTAs that will not scam you on your next trip:
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