How to spot a hotel booking scam

Scammers are getting better and better at mimicking the look and feel of trustworthy websites, but there are things you can do to protect yourself against booking a hotel with a fraudulent site.

A beach house at a popular boutique hotel in Paia, Hawaii. According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, over 2.5 million fraudulent hotel bookings are made each year.

Travis Rowan/Paia Inn via AP/File

By Mark Jackson, Brad's Deals

August 11, 2015

Scam hotel booking sites have been popping up all over the internet, and while they might look JUST like your favorite online travel agency, looks can be deceiving. Scammers are getting better and better at mimicking the look and feel of trustworthy websites. But there are things you can do to protect yourself against booking a hotel with a fraudulent site.

This problem has become so prevalent that the FTC wrote an entire blog post on the subject in which they recommended booking directly with the hotel chain. Another way to be sure you're navigating to the right webpage is to use the URL on your rewards card. Most major chains will simply be the brand name plus a .com, likeStarwood.com or Hilton.com.

According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, over 2.5 million fraudulent bookings are made each year. Sometimes, you'll still get a room, just not the one you thought you booked. Imagine arriving on vacation with a family of five thinking you booked a two-room ocean-side suite, only to be presented with a room holding one queen-sized bed and a view of the parking lot.

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One fraud prevention tactic I like to use is to call the hotel directly with the cheaper rate online. Many hotels will match a rate lower than their own, or even give you some money back with a "Best Price Guarantee." To take advantage of this, book a room directly through your hotel chain, and then send them an email within 24 hours with a screenshot and link of the lower price you found. Usually they'll match the price, and sometimes even give you a premium, like Starwood's 20 percent bonus or 2,000 Starpoints.