Business & Finance

Fake 10 Downing Street rental listing prompts consumer group criticism of Booking.com

Watchdog Which? calls platform verification systems inadequate after creating a bogus listing for the UK prime minister's official residence.

Updated Sep 2, 2026 · 02:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

UK consumer group Which? successfully published a fake rental listing for 10 Downing Street on Booking.com and booked a stay as part of a test.
The listing remained on the platform for over two months and failed to trigger automated security blocks against external payment links and a mock review.
Booking.com stated the test was not representative because the listing remained closed rather than fully live, which prevented some automatic fraud systems from triggering.
Which? has urged communications regulator Ofcom to use the Online Safety Act to hold booking platforms accountable for fraud exposure.

Which? researchers created a fake listing for 10 Downing Street on Booking.com on June 18, marketing it as a one-bedroom central London apartment.[BBC News]
During a 20-minute window when bookings were enabled, 14 individuals requested a reservation before Which? accepted only its own researcher's application.[BBC News]
Booking.com's automated systems did not flag an external payment link sent through the site's messaging system or a joke review referencing resident cat Larry.[BBC News]
Booking.com removed the listing on August 27, defending its fraud defenses by stating the closed status of the test listing prevented full automatic removal protocols from initiating.[BBC News]

Whether Ofcom will take regulatory action against Booking.com under the Online Safety Act regarding fraudulent listings.[BBC News]