Booking Holdings falls as EU opens probe into Booking.com's fraud risks

By Reuters News13:52 (UTC), 21 October 2026 Updated

** Shares of online travel company Booking Holdings BKNG.O down about 2% at $161 in early trading

** EU tech regulators are investigating whether Booking.com is doing enough to weed out fraudulent listings and phishing scams to comply with the bloc's online content rules

** The European Commission opens an investigation after reviewing Booking.com's risk assessment reports from this year and the previous three years

** The investigation focuses on fake listings, impersonation fraud and non-compliant accommodation offers, and Booking.com's efforts to mitigate related risks

** Booking.com says it was engaging constructively with the Commission

** "Security, trust and the protection of personal information are top priorities at Booking.com," a spokesperson for the company said

** Including session's move, shares down 24.3% YTD

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