Booking.com faces criticism after fake listings send tourists to a London pub

Which? revealed that scammers exploited Booking.com by posting a "block of luxury apartments" using the address of The Liberty Bounds pub near Tower Bridge, causing the venue to refuse up to 20 tourists each day. The watchdog also uncovered a fake 10 Downing Street listing and other bogus ads such as "Apartments near Big Ben" at Portcullis House. Customers, including Paul Dawson who paid £73 for a stay, reported that Booking.com’s support insisted they travel to the non-existent property despite safety concerns, and many complaints about the scams were ignored.

An AI trip planner called Dot incorrectly affirmed the legitimacy of the fake London Crown listing, even misplacing Longleat Safari Park near London. Booking.com said the listings were hijacked through a sophisticated phishing attack on the properties’ own accounts and said it had suspended bookings and assisted affected users. Ofcom warned it will enforce the Online Safety Act against platforms that fail to remove illegal content.