SECURITY experts have warned users of two popular websites to be very wary when they’re searching for them online.
The cybersecurity specialists at Trend Micro have spotted what they describe as “deceptive copycat versions” of the sites.
If you’re an avid user of Airbnb or Booking.com then you should take note.
A recent Trend Micro blog explained: “Our malicious website technology has recently detected two fake websites impersonating Airbnb.com and Booking.com.
“To be clear, both Airbnb and Booking.com have no affiliation with these malicious websites — it is simply a case of cybercriminals creating copycat versions of the companies’ legitimate sites to try to scam people.”
The copycat websites are very convincing and you’d be forgiven for believing that they’re the real deal.
There are two scam URLs you can watch out for.
They’re “Airbnb[.]ld83528[.]ru” and “SecurePropertyCheck[.]com.”
You can check the website address bar to make sure you’re not on one of these sites by accident.
If you do happen to click on one, exit immediately.
The sites aren’t designed for legitimate bookings but will take you through a booking process and then steal your money.
The Trend Micro blog explained: “The fake websites will request info such as your full name, address, phone number, and credit/debit card info (including card number, expiration date, and 3-digit code).”
Giving this information to cybercriminals can have devastating consequences.
They could drain your bank accounts and even steal your identity.
Google Chrome’s standard protection should warn you about risky websites.
However, some can still slip through the cracks.
If you’re worried, you can try the Google Chrome Safe Browsing feature.
To turn it on, open Google Chrome.
Head to “Settings” and then click “Privacy and Security” and “Safe Browsing.”
