How scammers leverage a trusted travel brand to trick crypto investors
Oct 28, 2025
Security firms report that fraudsters are posing as Booking.com in a phishing campaign aimed at cryptocurrency users by promoting a bogus “Crypto Travel Summit”, exploiting the brand’s credibility to lure victims.
Key takeaways
- Fraudulent summit invite: A fake email announced an “Exclusive Crypto Travel Summit” in Dubai, allegedly organised by Booking.com and Coinbase, listing prominent crypto figures as speakers — a clear fabrication.
- Obvious red flags: The invitation included an RSVP deadline that had already passed, indicating the scam lacked basic legitimacy.
- Massive phishing surge: Booking.com confirmed a 900 % increase in reported impersonation attempts targeting its users.
- Crypto-specific scam trend: This case follows a broader rise in scams targeting cryptocurrency users, including fake listing agents and spoofed customer support efforts.
- Brand advice: Booking.com emphasised it never uses messaging apps like Telegram or WhatsApp for recruitment or support, and urged users to avoid entering payment details or clicking on suspicious links.
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