Consumer group exposes fake Downing Street listing on Booking.com
A consumer group created a fake Downing Street listing on Booking.com to show fraud checks are inadequate; the site disputes it was live.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The consumer group Which? created a fake listing for 10 Downing Street on Booking.com to highlight what it says are inadequate fraud checks on the platform. The listing, described as a one-bedroom holiday let four minutes from the Houses of Parliament, included a review mentioning hanging out with Larry the resident cat. It remained undetected for two months, according to the group.
Booking.com responded that the test was not a true reflection of the experience of millions of listings. The company said the property was not visible to customers or live for the time period referenced, and that it uses a range of checks and verification measures to detect and remove the majority of fraudulent listings within 24 hours. However, the listing was only bookable for 20 minutes, and it was the consumer group that changed its status.
The group argues that the ease with which the fake listing was created shows the site's fraud checks are not fit for purpose. Which? is calling for more to be done to force sites to take down false listings under the Online Safety Act.
The report also offered practical advice for holidaymakers: reverse image search pictures, check Google Maps to see if the property exists, compare reviews across sites, and be wary of prices that are significantly cheaper than elsewhere. Paying by credit card for purchases over £100 offers extra protection.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 |
|---|---|
| A consumer group created a fake Downing Street listing on Booking.com that went undetected for two months; the company said it was not visible or live and was only bookable for 20 minutes. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The channel presented the story as a consumer warning, balancing the consumer group's claims with Booking.com's response. It included practical tips for viewers on spotting fake listings and used a light-hearted tone, referencing the cat and a joke about Andy Burnham. It highlighted the discrepancy between the group's claim of two months undetected and Booking.com's assertion that the listing was not live.
- “There's a warning out after the consumer group which created a fake listing for number 10 Downing Street, it went undetected for two months”
- “A spokesperson for booking.com today said This limited test is not a true reflection of the experience of millions of listings on our platform”
- “You can do things like reverse look up on the pictures and see where else they're listed”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.