Full Breakdown
London Pub Addresses Misused in Luxury-Apartment Phishing Scam
By Drooid · · How we work
Scam Overview
A theatre-goer from Loughborough, Paul Dawson, paid £73 for a one-night stay at “The London Crown apartments” booked through Booking.com, intending to attend the musical *Hamilton* in the West End. The listing’s address was actually The Liberty Bounds, a Wetherspoon pub near Tower Bridge, meaning Dawson arrived at a public house rather than a luxury flat.
How the Phishing Attack Operated
Which? reported that scammers hijacked legitimate Booking.com listings for reputable properties and replaced the correct addresses with those of well-known public venues. In one case the fake address pointed to The Liberty Bounds pub; another listing advertised “apartments near Big Ben” using the address of Portcullis House, part of the House of Commons estate where MPs work. The scheme relied on the familiarity of these landmarks to appear credible to unsuspecting travelers.
Impact on Victims and Businesses
Which? noted that Wetherspoon staff have been turning away up to 20 tourists each day after the scam’s addresses were used, indicating a significant disruption to the pub’s regular clientele. The financial loss to individual victims, such as Dawson’s £73 payment, is modest, but the broader reputational damage affects both the hospitality venues and the online travel platform.
Official Responses
Booking.com told Which? that the listings for the legitimate properties had been targeted by a “sophisticated phishing attack,” allowing criminals to hijack the entries. Wetherspoon said it informed Booking.com of the misuse as soon as it became aware of the scam. Which? highlighted the need for stronger verification processes on booking platforms to prevent similar incidents.