Booking.com Scam Leaves Students Stranded in Marrakech Vacation Nightmare

Charlotte, Inès and Achraf’s savings have gone up in smoke. They were defrauded by a well-planned scam. With their savings, these three students wanted to treat themselves to a little week of vacation in Marrakech in September and booked a riad through Booking, reports La Montagne. "We booked a riad through Booking. It was very attractive and rated 9.3/10. We only had a few days, so we wanted to make sure," says Charlotte. But things don’t go as planned. The students arrive in front of the establishment located in an abandoned street and find that it is covered in graffiti. Enough to raise some concerns.

"The environment was really gloomy. Nothing like the photos on the site... We immediately wondered how it was possible to have a 9.3/10 with such a situation." With the riad closed, the tourists left the premises. "The riad was closed. We tried to reach the owners. In vain," sighs Charlotte. Suitcases in hand, the students had to fall back on a nearby hotel, as the Booking customer service was impossible to reach. They were unable to cancel or get a refund. Charlotte’s attempt to file an objection with her bank failed.

The online booking platform "plays dead. I have no news. Only my eyes to cry. One thing is certain: my account has indeed been debited," laments the student.