**** bookings on Booking.com

On the 31st of December 2024 i booked accommodation at Zimbali resort for me and my Family through Booking.com, i got a confirmation number *** Booking.com sent me a mail asking for my contact details, (which i sent my phone number?) the host GiftKhoza contacted me on WhatsApp, the number corresponded with the number on Booking.com and told me that i needed to make payment for the booking. (Previously in 2022 i booked with Booking.com at Lavender Trout lodge in the midlands and they requested tge sale as they didn't expect credit cards and had to transfer into there account which i did and we had an amazing 1 night stay there) So on that request i made payment immediately, the host said he would send us access codes, on arrival at Zimbali I tried calling the host( to no availability) so i went to the welcome center where we were told that there was no such booking and there was no such place to stay in Zimbali it was **** and we had been conned out of R10000, at this point my wife and 4 kids started crying. I spoke with Booking.com and they assured me that all would be taken care of and that they would find me accommodation for the evening, first Booking.com said they had availability in Verluam (which is a very unsafe part of Durban) which i didn't pursue, then they suggested an estate called Elalani forest estate in Ballito and they had availability for the family so we booked again with Booking.com R3845 trusting that this couldn't happen twice in 1 day ( and they suggested it to us) we booked it through my wifes debit card, all excited again after our first ordeal we went through to the booking, on arrival at our second booking for the day we found 3 cars waiting at the main entrance to enter the estate, on trying to access our accommodation we where told once again that it was **** and there was no such accommodation on the property and that 4 other couples had also booked the same booking which wasn't real at all. Now i did contact Booking.com on both occasions and they assured me that they would sort it out, refund our money and explain to us what had happened , but its been 8 days now and i still haven't heard a thing and had no refund at all. Do they know what trauma, stress, frustration and anxiety they have put us through , i don't think so and dont think they actually care. My kids where so looking forward to the holiday spending quality time together, they cried the whole evening. Now i want an apology from Booking.com a full refund for both accommodations and to be compensated for the inconvenience caused.