Fancy staying at No. 10 Downing Street? How to stay safe when booking accommodation online

Fancy spending a few nights at No. 10 Downing Street, the London home of the UK prime minister?

You could apparently book it online, but you wouldn’t actually be staying there.

Consumer group Which? says it was able to create a fake listing on Booking.com advertising the prime minister’s official residence as a holiday let. The listing included the genuine address and a photo of the famous black front door.

More worryingly, Which? says Booking.com processed a payment made by one of its researchers for a supposed stay at the property.

Creating the fake listing was remarkably easy and took just a few minutes, according to Which?.

The consumer watchdog says it has received dozens of complaints about scam messages sent through the platform and has repeatedly exposed security weaknesses.

It has also heard from hundreds of travellers who arrived at properties only to discover their booking was fake.

Even the reviews can be fake

Which? was also able to add a fake review to its bogus listing, giving it 10/10 and joking about “hanging out with Larry the cat”.

Booking.com said the review would be checked by its moderators, but Which? says it appeared almost immediately.

The fake listing went live in mid-June and was not removed until 27 August, according to Which?, despite the consumer group alerting Booking.com to its findings.

Which? said the investigation exposed “glaring gaps in Booking.com's security”.

The incident offers a warning for holidaymakers that even a well-known booking website doesn't mean every listing, message or review is genuine.

So, what can you do to protect yourself?

Know that almost anything can be faked

Photos, addresses, reviews, descriptions and even messages from supposed hosts can all be copied or fabricated.

Don't assume a listing is genuine just because it appears on a well-known website. Take a few minutes to check it out independently.

Check the location

Look up the address on Google Maps or another mapping service.

If the address is vague, incomplete or doesn't seem to exist, walk away.

Don't rely on reviews

Five-star ratings aren't proof that a property is genuine.

Look for detailed reviews, check when they were posted and watch out for lots of similar-sounding or overly enthusiastic comments.

Where possible, search for independent reviews and information about the property elsewhere online.

Don't let yourself be rushed

Scammers want you to act before you have time to think.

Be suspicious of messages saying there's only one room left, someone else is about to book or you must pay immediately.

If you're being pressured, stop and check the details. A genuine deal shouldn't require you to panic.

Keep payments on the platform

Where possible, pay through the booking platform's official payment system.

Be wary if a host asks you to pay separately by bank transfer, cryptocurrency or another method outside the normal booking process.

If you're asked to cancel a booking and pay directly, contact the platform independently before doing anything.

Be wary of links and messages

A message can look as though it comes from a genuine booking company and still be a scam.

Don't click links asking you to ‘verify’ your booking, update payment details or enter your password.

Instead, open the company's official app or website yourself and check your booking there.

Beware of online adverts

Don't assume an accommodation advert is genuine because you found it through Google or social media.

Scammers can use convincing adverts to send you to fake booking websites.

Search for the property independently and check that the website and contact details are genuine before paying.

Consider using a travel agent

For an expensive or complicated trip, a reputable travel agent can give you extra support and help you avoid dubious accommodation providers.

Check that the agent is a genuine business and, where appropriate, has relevant industry protections.

Contact the business directly

If something doesn't look right the ask.

But don't use the phone number, email address or link provided in a suspicious message. Find the accommodation provider or booking platform independently and contact them using their official details.

A quick check could save you hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

Keep a record

Save your booking confirmation, receipts, messages and screenshots of the listing.

If the listing suddenly disappears, you'll have evidence of what you booked and paid for.

Trust your instincts

If the price seems too good to be true, the photographs don't add up or the host is pushing you towards an unusual payment method, take a step back.

One warning sign doesn't necessarily mean it's a scam. Several together should make you stop.

A genuine bargain will still be there after you've checked it out.

How to report a scam

If you spot a scam or believe you’ve been defrauded, report it to Report Fraud at www.reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

If you get a scam email, forward them to [email protected], and if you received a dodgy text, forward it to 7726.