Listing Scam?

[Jorge3244]

I reserved a house 8 room next to a lake at bethel, ny, paid the deposit, after a week, host called me thru Airbnb saying he sold the house but new owner wants to keep renting thru Airbnb or between us (private) , I told him whatever is fine. New owner texted me and sent me a private contract, which I signed and dated but for some reason I didn't trusted it, I googled the address on the contract and show me another small home in the area (2 rooms only).

She texted me saying the address came out with bethel, ny or white lake, ny and different zip codes but with both cities and zip codes Google showed me same small house.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Jorge3244 As soon as you go off-platform it could easily be a scam

[Tara0]

@Jorge3244 This sounds like a scam. Cancel the Airbnb booking and report the listing to Airbnb. 

[Helen3 · Accepted solution]

Contact Airbnv and tell them the host has told you a week after you booked that they have sold the listing . @Jorge3244 

He shouldn't have called you (probably wants to avoid having a written record ). Before you contact Airbnv write back to the owner on Airbnb and say how disappointed you are that they kept the property on Airbnb knowing they had sold it and wouldn't be available to host.

that being the case you need them to cancel the booking so Airbnb can send you a refund.

[Paula]

Hello @Jorge3244, sorry to hear about this. Have you contacted the Airbnb Support team, as other hosts have suggested here? What did they recommend?

Please keep us posted.