Booking.com Warns of Rising Travel Scams Driven by AI

• Booking.com warns that AI is driving a significant increase in travel scams, particularly phishing attacks, which are becoming harder to detect.
• Consumers and travel providers are urged to adopt measures like two-factor authentication and thorough research to protect against these sophisticated scams.

Planning your next holiday? Stay informed on how AI is set out to wipe your bank accounts.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is causing an increase in scams involving travel warnings coming from Booking.com‘s head of internet security, Marnie Wilking.He highlighted the alarming rise “anywhere from a 500 to a 900% increase” in frauds during the last 18 months.

Wilking noted a dramatic growth in phishing scams, where victims get tricked into giving personal financial data–since the new generative AI software like ChatGPT were introduced to the market. “Of course, we’ve had phishing since the dawn of email, but the uptick started shortly after ChatGPT got launched,” she added.

Phishing threats have become increasingly sophisticated thanks to AI. “The attackers are definitely using AI to launch attacks that mimic emails far better than anything that they’ve done to date,” Wilking observed. They typically use false, yet convincing web-based booking websites that trick users into giving their credit account details.

Scammers typically target sites such as Booking.com as well as Airbnb where individuals are able to post their homes for sale. When a buyer pays the scammers will either vanish with the victim with no accommodation or to demand more cash through emails that follow up.

Historically, frauds are recognized by a variety of indicators including spelling or grammatical mistakes. In the Collision Technology Conference at the Collision technology conference in Toronto, Wilking warned that AI makes these scams more difficult to spot by creating real-looking images as well as more precise texts in a variety of languages.

In order to stop phishing and theft of credentials, Wilking advocates for the usage of two-factor authentication that requires the addition of a security test, like sending a code by your mobile. Wilking also stressed the importance of being vigilant when clicking hyperlinks.

Despite the difficulties that AI-driven frauds pose, Wilking noted that the technology is also helping Booking.com rapidly remove false listings. “We’ve set up AI models to detect those and either block them from getting on there to begin with or take it down before there’s any booking,” she stated.

Expert in consumer protection Jane Hawkes, specializing in travel and tourism, agreed with Wilking’s concerns, and called on travel agencies to “step up efforts” to make people aware of scams. “They also have a responsibility to advise travelers on ways to minimize the risk of being scammed,” she said.

Hawkes recommended that people do their research thoroughly so that they don’t fall for frauds. “Check that contact details are readily available on websites and that there is a telephone number – many scam sites purposely don’t have one,” she stated. The expert also advised booking packages of holidays, and taking advantage of credit cards for maximum protection.

While travel scams grow more sophisticated, travelers and the travel industry must be vigilant and take steps to safeguard themselves from scams.