Sebarindo Hotel – A message arrives two days before the trip. It names the hotel, the dates and the price, and it warns that the booking will be canceled unless the card details are re-entered within 24 hours.
That pattern is one of the most common hotel booking scams today. This guide covers the main tricks, the warning signs, and the steps to take after a payment, based on official platform and regulator guidance checked on October 25, 2026.
The Payment Message Scam
Scammers send messages that look like they come from the hotel or the booking platform. They often arrive on WhatsApp, include real-looking stay dates and costs, and push you to “re-confirm” payment urgently.
Booking.com says it will never ask for credit card details by email, phone, text or WhatsApp. It also says it will never ask for a bank transfer that differs from the payment policy in your confirmation, or for payment by gift card.
A real booking does not need the card number again through a chat link. Treat any such request as fake until proven otherwise.
Lookalike Sites and Phone Numbers
A second trick is a website or search ad that looks like the hotel’s own page but belongs to someone else. Some are outright fakes. Others are resellers that make you think you are booking direct.
In a 2017 case, the US Federal Trade Commission said a group of hotel room resellers used ads, webpages and call centers that led consumers to believe they were booking directly with hotels. The settlement banned placing phone numbers near a hotel’s name or logo in a way that suggested callers would reach the hotel.
The FTC also noted the practical cost. Booking through a reseller can mean different cancellation rules and no hotel loyalty points.
Warning Signs Worth a Second Look
Booking.com lists several red flags on its safety page:
- a payment deadline that feels rushed, such as a 24-hour transfer window
- a property that insists on talking outside the platform
- prices far below similar places in the same area
- a newly listed property asking you to pay outside its stated payment policy
- emails with links that ask you to sign in or enter financial details
One flag alone does not prove a scam. Two or more together are a reason to stop before paying.
How to Check Before You Pay
A one-minute check covers most cases:
- Type the hotel’s official website address yourself instead of clicking an ad.
- Compare any message with the confirmation email from the platform you booked on.
- Pay only through the method written in your booking’s payment policy.
- Call the hotel using the number on its official website, not the number in the message.
- Ask the platform’s customer service through its app or website if anything feels off.
Booking.com says its customer service asks only for a reservation ID or PIN, never an account password.
If You Already Paid or Shared Details
Speed matters, because banks can sometimes stop a payment that is still processing.
- Contact your bank or card provider, ask them to block and replace the card, and watch for unknown charges.
- Contact the booking platform’s customer service and report a possible scam.
- Change your account password and turn on two-factor sign-in.
- Keep screenshots of the messages, sender details and payment receipts.
In the United States, consumers can report fraud to the FTC at its official complaint site. In other countries, use your national consumer or cybercrime reporting channel and your bank’s fraud line.
Real hotels and platforms do not ask guests to rescue a booking by sending card details through a chat link.
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