Booked a hotel? The message that could cost you dearly
The Israel National Cyber Directorate warns of a new phishing wave where messages impersonating Booking.com are sent. The messages sometimes include real booking details, making the scam harder to identify. The link in the message leads to a fake site designed to steal credit card details. Recommendation: do not click the link, but independently access the official website.
The Israel National Cyber Directorate is warning of a new wave of phishing attempts, in which text messages are sent impersonating official Booking.com messages. The messages appear as hotel booking confirmations, and in some cases include real booking details – stay dates and a booking number – making the scam particularly difficult to identify. The recipient is asked to confirm the booking via a link, but the link leads to a fake site that mimics Booking.com and attempts to steal personal and payment details. The Cyber Directorate emphasizes that even a message with familiar details is not necessarily genuine. The main recommendation: do not open the link, but independently access the official website or app and check the booking there. Anyone who has already entered credit card details is advised to contact their credit card company and report to the 119 hotline.