Fake Crypto Summit Invitation Circulates
CoinGecko CEO Bobby Ong recently sounded the alarm about a sophisticated phishing campaign that’s been targeting cryptocurrency users. The scam involves fraudulent emails that impersonate Booking.com, promoting what appears to be a crypto travel summit in Dubai scheduled for November 2025. I think what makes this particularly convincing is how they’ve structured the message – it looks professional at first glance.
The email claims that Booking.com and Coinbase have formed some kind of strategic partnership to launch crypto travel services. They even listed Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong as keynote speakers, which adds a layer of credibility. But here’s the catch – the RSVP deadline they set was September 30, 2025, which had already passed when these emails started circulating. That’s a pretty obvious red flag if you’re paying attention.
Ong shared the phishing email on social media back in October 2025, warning people to just delete these messages immediately. He also urged Booking.com to escalate the issue to their security team, which they did respond to through their official account.
Booking.com’s Official Response
Booking.com confirmed they’re investigating these fraudulent emails. They made it clear that they don’t communicate through messaging apps like Telegram or WhatsApp, and they definitely don’t recruit or offer customer support through those channels. That’s important information for people to know.
The company advised users not to provide personal information, make payments, or click links in suspicious messages. They suggested reporting these incidents to local authorities. For legitimate booking issues, users should contact Booking.com’s customer service directly using confirmation numbers and reservation details.
It’s interesting how Booking.com handled this – they acknowledged the problem quickly and provided clear guidance. They seem to understand that their brand reputation is at stake here.
Broader Crypto Scam Patterns
This isn’t an isolated incident. Back in September 2025, Binance warned about fake listing agents claiming they could guarantee platform listings for fees. Binance CEO Richard Teng also detailed phone scams where impersonators posed as customer support agents.
These scammers have been getting more sophisticated. Some were guiding users to change API settings that would enable fund theft. The crypto community has been expressing frustration about how these scams continue to evolve and become more complex.
Ong emphasized that the adversarial nature of cryptocurrency requires users to verify all communications carefully. Security experts generally recommend checking sender domains and avoiding suspicious links. When something seems unusual, it’s always better to contact platforms directly through their official channels.
What strikes me about this particular scam is how it combines two trusted brands – Booking.com for travel and Coinbase for crypto – to create a believable narrative. It shows that scammers are getting better at understanding what makes people trust certain communications.
The timing is also interesting. Setting an event for November 2025 gives it a sense of urgency while still being far enough in the future to seem plausible. But that expired RSVP deadline really gives it away if you’re paying close attention.
This situation highlights the ongoing challenge in the crypto space – as security measures improve, scammers adapt their tactics. It’s a constant cat-and-mouse game that requires users to remain vigilant and skeptical, even when communications appear to come from trusted sources.
