Doherty calls for EU crackdown on online fraud

Fine Gael MEP Regina Doherty has called for urgent EU action to tackle the alarming surge in Booking.com-related scams, which have increased by up to 900%.

The Dublin MEP has raised concerns over what she calls the platform’s security failures and “the threat they pose to consumers across Europe.”

Doherty has formally submitted Questions to the Commissioner for Justice and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, demanding clarity on:

• Whether existing EU consumer protection laws are being properly implemented online in light of the dramatic rise in fraud.

• Whether Booking.com’s security measures are sufficient to prevent unauthorised access to customer data, particularly under GDPR regulations.

• What action the Commission can take to better resource the protection of consumer rights online.

Speaking on the issue, Doherty said “the scale of these scams is shocking.”

“Cybercriminals are exploiting vulnerabilities in Booking.com’s systems to steal personal and financial information from consumers across Europe. This is completely unacceptable. As a member of the European Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO), I see firsthand how vital consumer trust is in the digital economy.”

“Recent cases have shown how sophisticated these scams have become, with fraudsters gaining access to hotel accounts and sending legitimate-looking emails to trick customers into handing over their bank details. Even a consumer rights advocate, Brendan Burgess, recently fell victim to such a scam, proving how deceptive these fraudulent activities can be.

“The European Commission needs to step up and take decisive action to prevent further scams and restore trust in digital platforms.”