Compiled with the help of artificial intelligence, based on Spanish-language information. Source below the article.
Rising threat of booking scams in the Canary Islands
Fraudsters targeting hotel bookings have now set their sights on the Canary Islands. Phishing attempts are part of the daily routine for hotels across the archipelago, with fraudulent emails and scam attempts arriving every day, all designed to breach security systems and steal customers’ data. The aim is almost always the same: to impersonate an establishment or a booking platform, direct the user to a fake page and get hold of their bank details.
Hotels on high alert
Fernando Estany, second vice-president of the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism Employers of Las Palmas (FEHT), says hotels maintain constant vigilance against such threats and also call on specialist companies to reinforce their systems. Despite this, he explains that phishing emails “arrive every day” at hotel receptions, particularly at “smaller complexes”. However, Estany maintains he has no knowledge of any major data breach among affiliated hotels in the province of Las Palmas. “I have no news of any hotel in the province of Las Palmas having suffered a significant leak,” he says.
The situation, he explains, differs from episodes recorded in previous years, especially in smaller establishments, where fraudulent bookings can be made through less protected systems. The businessman also points out that cybercriminals do not always target the hotel directly. Large booking platforms hold a far greater amount of information, making them especially attractive to those seeking access to user data.
Impersonating the big booking platforms
Once that information is obtained, customers may receive emails that impersonate companies such as Booking or Expedia, inviting them to click on a link to confirm a reservation or make a payment. Jorge Marichal, president of Ashotel and the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (CEHAT), explains that these attempts become more frequent when demand rises and travellers search for accommodation at short notice. “Summer, Christmas and holiday periods are particularly favourable moments,” he says, as users may act in haste for fear of missing out on a room.
How the fake booking pages work
One of the most common methods is to replicate a hotel’s webpage and slightly alter its web address, for example by changing a single letter in the hotel’s name. The appearance, photographs and even the look of the payment gateway can all convince a user they are on the official site. “Distrust what seems illogical” is, for Marichal, one of the main prevention measures. He offers a particular warning about deals that seem too good to be true, because the urge to snap up a bargain can lead customers to enter their bank details without first checking who is behind the page.
When the reservation never existed
The problem does not necessarily end once payment has been completed. Sometimes a tourist arrives at the hotel convinced they have a room booked, only to discover the reservation never existed. This situation becomes especially difficult when the trip also includes flights and the hotel is fully booked. “We try to find the best possible solution,” Marichal says, though he admits that in certain cases it is impossible because “there is not even a single room available”.
Simple steps to stay safe
For this reason, both industry representatives agree on one basic recommendation: never click on links received by email or WhatsApp to manage a booking. Estany advises going directly to the official page of the platform used, entering your credentials and checking the information there. If the booking was made directly with the hotel, verification should be done through their official channels. Marichal adds that, when in doubt, “the telephone remains a useful tool for verifying a reservation”. He also recommends checking that the website and payment gateway are official before entering personal or banking details.
The role of artificial intelligence in travel fraud
Artificial intelligence is also making life easier for fraudsters, allowing them to develop new ways of deceiving and robbing users. However, both Marichal and Estany rule out, for the time being, any direct link between the development of this technology and an increase in fraud in the Canary Islands. Hotels have stepped up their protection systems and payment gateways are increasingly secure, meaning cybersecurity is advancing at the same pace as cybercrime. “Each new method used by cybercriminals forces the sector to strengthen its defences,” says Marichal, adding that “cybersecurity is, in fact, two steps ahead”.
Even so, the sector remains cautious. Estany warns of the risks posed by the growing role of AI in trip planning. Tourists increasingly use these tools to design their holidays and receive recommendations on destinations, accommodation or websites where they can book. If the information provided is incorrect, the user can end up on a site that is not the official one without ever noticing the error.
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