Booking.com has confirmed a data breach in which unauthorised parties accessed customers' booking information. The platform said it noticed suspicious activity involving third parties gaining access to some guests' booking details, including names, contact information, and reservation specifics.
The company stated that it took immediate action to contain the issue, updating pin numbers for affected reservations and notifying customers. Booking.com declined to disclose the number of people affected but assured that financial information was not compromised.
In an email to impacted customers, Booking.com explained that hackers may have accessed booking details, names, emails, addresses, phone numbers, and any information shared with the accommodation. This incident is part of a series of cybercrime attempts targeting the platform, which has recently struggled with online scams involving fraudulent requests for payment details.
In 2018, criminals used phishing tactics to steal login details from hotel employees in the United Arab Emirates, accessing data from over 4,000 people. Booking.com was later fined €475,000 for reporting that breach to the Dutch privacy regulator 22 days late.
The wider travel industry faces increasing pressure to combat fake listings and scams on booking websites. Booking.com, owned by Booking Holdings, lists over 30 million accommodation venues worldwide and connects millions of travellers with experiences and transport.
