Fake Booking Site Scams in Portugal
Fraudulent accommodation and experience booking platforms targeting tourists and expats in Portugal, collecting EUR payments for stays or activities that do not exist.
Part of: Fake Booking Sites
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Portugal's tourism boom has created an active market for fake booking sites targeting visitors to Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, and Madeira. Fraudulent platforms clone legitimate holiday-rental portals or create convincing standalone sites with Portuguese properties listed below market rates, collecting EUR deposits or full payments for accommodation that is unavailable or non-existent.
Turismo de Portugal and consumer body DECO both advise tourists to use official booking platforms and verify accommodation independently. Losses vary from individual weekend-trip deposits to multiple-week holiday payments.
How this scam works on Portugal
A search-engine advert or social-media post promotes a Lisbon apartment or Algarve villa at 30–50% below comparable platforms. The site resembles Airbnb or Booking.com but uses a slightly different domain.
Checkout accepts card or MB WAY payment, but no accommodation reference is generated on the real platform. When victims arrive at the address, the property is either occupied by legitimate tenants who never listed it, or is a real address with no vacancy.
Customer service is unresponsive or offers endless 'technical delay' excuses before the site disappears.
Common red flags
- Price substantially below comparable listings on official Booking.com or Airbnb for the same dates and location
- Domain closely resembles Booking.com or Airbnb but with minor character differences
- No verifiable host profile or reviews on the booking platform
- Payment via MB WAY or bank transfer to a personal account rather than the platform's payment system
- No cancellation policy or refund terms visible
- Host communicates only via WhatsApp and discourages use of platform messaging
How to protect yourself
- Book only through verified platforms — Booking.com, Airbnb, or RNAL (official Portuguese short-term rental registry)
- Verify that accommodation is registered on the Portuguese RNAL at rnt.turismodeportugal.pt
- Pay through the platform's own payment system, not directly to a host
- Check host reviews independently before paying
- Use credit card for better chargeback options if something goes wrong
- Contact the platform directly via official channels if you suspect a listing is fake
How to report it
- Report to DECO at deco.proteste.pt
- Contact Polícia Judiciária at policiajudiciaria.pt
- Initiate a chargeback with your card issuer if card was used
Frequently asked questions
What is the RNAL and how does it protect travellers in Portugal?
RNAL (Registo Nacional de Alojamento Local) is Portugal's official short-term rental registry. Legitimate Alojamento Local operators must display their RNAL number. Accommodation without a verifiable RNAL number may not be legitimate.