The problem of "rogue" hotel booking websites is bigger than previously known and is creating enormous problems for both travelers and the hotel industry, NBC News reported.
A recent survey done for the American Hotel & Lodging Association found that 6 percent of travelers who had booked a room online thought they were booking directly with the hotel, but later found out they had used an imposter site. Based on this survey, the group estimates 15 million hotel bookings were done on rogue websites last year with $1.3 billion going to these fraudsters.
Prior to this survey, the group estimated the problem to be much smaller: about 2.5 million hotel bookings a year.
