Fake Booking Sites Targeting Malta Tourists
Fraudulent accommodation and ferry booking websites target travellers planning holidays in Malta, collecting payments for reservations that do not exist.
Part of: Fake Booking Sites
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Malta is one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations, drawing millions of visitors to its beaches, historical sites, and Gozo ferry trips. The high demand for accommodation and transport during peak season makes the country a prime target for fake booking site fraud, where convincing imitations of legitimate portals collect payments for hotels, apartments, or ferry crossings that were never actually booked.
The problem is compounded by the fact that many tourists book Malta travel from abroad, making it difficult to verify accommodation in person before payment. Fraudulent sites appear in paid search results and social media ads, closely mimicking well-known booking platforms.
How this scam works on Malta
A victim searches for Malta accommodation or Gozo ferry tickets and clicks a paid search ad or social-media link that leads to a convincing booking website. The site uses the branding of well-known platforms or invents a plausible name. Payment is taken, and a confirmation email arrives — but the booking does not exist on the actual hotel's or ferry operator's system.
The victim discovers the fraud only on arrival in Malta when the hotel has no record of the reservation or the ferry ticket is rejected. Some fake sites impersonate the official Gozo Channel or Virtu Ferries websites, given the heavy tourism demand for Gozo crossings.
Others pose as short-let agencies for Maltese holiday apartments, taking substantial deposits for popular summer weeks and disappearing before the stay date.
Common red flags
- The booking website URL differs slightly from the official platform (e.g., extra hyphens or misspellings).
- Prices are noticeably lower than comparable options on verified platforms.
- Payment is requested by bank transfer or cryptocurrency rather than card.
- No verifiable company address or registration number appears in the site footer.
- The confirmation email comes from a free email provider rather than the booking platform domain.
- Customer service is only reachable via WhatsApp or a personal mobile number.
How to protect yourself
- Book accommodation directly through the hotel's official website or through major verified aggregators.
- For Gozo ferry tickets, book only through the official Gozo Channel (gozochannel.com) or Virtu Ferries sites.
- Verify the booking by calling the hotel or ferry operator directly before travel.
- Pay by credit card where possible — card schemes offer chargeback rights for services not received.
- Check the website URL carefully before entering payment details.
- Screenshot all booking confirmations and correspondence before travel.
How to report it
- Report fake booking sites to the Malta Tourism Authority and the Malta Police.
- Notify your card issuer immediately and initiate a chargeback if payment was by card.
- Report the fraudulent site to Google or Bing to have the ad removed from search results.
Frequently asked questions
How can I verify a Malta hotel booking is real?
Call the hotel directly on its publicly listed number — not a number from the booking confirmation — and ask them to confirm your reservation by name and dates.