Warning about online scams tied to hotel bookings and shopping portals
Reports indicate a rise in scams that claim to pay people for rating hotels listed on Booking.com. The information comes through Izvestia via R-Vision, noting that such schemes target users with promises of easy cash for helping hotels or online stores.
Booking.com stopped operating in Russia in March 2022. Russian bank cards are not accepted on the platform, and bookings cannot be made from a Russian IP address. This backdrop does not deter fraudsters, who keep finding ways to exploit the service as a lure. When ads are opened in messengers, the bait is clear: a task-based prize awaits those who assist online sellers with social activity or sales tasks on various platforms.
In these schemes, recipients are invited to perform a series of steps to unlock a promised reward. An example given by the source involves liking certain product items on a seller’s website or engaging with listings on a shopping platform. Once participants begin, they may be asked to open a wallet on a third-party service, transfer funds there, or use those funds to purchase goods. The promised returns later escalate into a loss for the user, who discovers the money is not recovered as pledged and the supposed reward never materializes.
Experts describe this tactic as a modernization of a familiar recruitment scam that users have seen on major platforms such as AliExpress, Ozone, and Wildberries. The script is continually refreshed, adapting to new services and popular online marketplaces to pull in more victims. The goal remains the same: coax victims into moving money through unauthorized channels under the pretense of a profitable opportunity.
Authorities and security professionals emphasize the importance of vigilance when encountering offers that seem too good to be true. Verified information sources, cautious handling of any requests to fund or transfer money, and a clear boundary between legitimate platform activity and unsolicited outreach are essential safeguards. The evolving nature of these scams means users should stay informed about current tactics and maintain healthy skepticism when approached with reward-based prompts tied to hotel ratings, shopping tasks, or any other online activity. The reporting suggests that advertisers continue to leverage familiar consumer habits, pairing appeals to convenience with the lure of quick earnings to obscure deceptive schemes.
In light of these developments, users are urged to rely on official channels and to verify the legitimacy of requests before providing access to financial tools or personal data. Staying alert to the patterns of this fraud can help minimize risk and protect personal accounts from unauthorized use.