Scam alert! How can I make sure a listing is real?

[Kim207]

This will be my first time using Airbnb so I'm a bit weary about listings being fake.

What can I do to make sure a listing is real and not a scam?

What should I be looking out for?

Thanks

[Daniela1192]

I was looking over the airnbnb options to spend a week in Forte Dei Marmi, Italy. After having spent several days at the search, this house just came up on the server today ( link below ). After having looked at the pciture of the house, I felt like I had found the perfect one, but after a quick look through the page, I noticed that the price was very low, there where no reviews and that the host did'nt have much information on her profile. It now feels like its to good to be true, but I still have some hope, but I dont know if it's a sca and its worth trying to book it. 

Is it a scam? Should I contact the host?

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/34596017?location=Forte%20dei%20Marmi%2C%20Province%20of%20Lucca%2C%20I...

[Brian947]

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/32087843?adults=7&check_in=2019-09-30&check_out=2019-10-04&guests=1&sou...

Seems too good to be true, thoughts?

[Sarah977]

@Brian947  It's a new listing with no reviews yet, so it may just be that the host is offering a discount to get the first guests and reviews.

However there are a few red flags on this, so I would definitely contact Airbnb about this listing to see what they have to say. It may, in fact, be bogus.

1st red flag- the host lists his email address in the first line of the description, asking guests to email him about a booking. Any personal contact info in a listing description is normally blocked by Airbnb, and hosts don't ask guests to email them about a booking- it should all go through the Airbnb messaging system.

2nd BIG red flag- when I click on the host's profile photo, what comes up on the screen is an error page, with the picture of the falling ice cream girl, which usually means the account has been deactivated.

[Stephen709]

https://abnb.me/YU0bseaVdX

Does this look genuine to you guys?

[Monah0]

https://abnb.me/umdUJ5C7JX

[Swaminathan1]

https://www.airbnb.com/trips/v1/48871de2-ee8d-493f-94bd-9056dce216a4  Is it a fake or scam ?

[Lacey28]

https://abnb.me/BhMCdFKWZX 

Is this a real booking I don’t see any reviews on it

[Katherine457]

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/36482908?location=South%20Beach%2C%20Miami%20Beach%2C%20FL%2C%20United%...

[Ana1136]

@Katherine457 is there a reason why you feel this is not a real listing? 

[Katherine457]

At first glance all I saw was 4 reviews but upon looking better I see the lister has 3 other properties with 130+ reviews so must be a newly listed property. 

I think it's legit now,  just had to look better.

I will be booking!! 

[Nada63]

Hello there, i'm trying to verify the listing below:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/36928583?c=.pi80.pkYm9va2luZy92MV9taWdyYXRpb24vcmVzZXJ2YXRpb25fYWNjZXB0...

[Giulia504]

Hello Cynthia, 

I am interested in this house but i am afraid it is a fake! 

https://www.airbnb.it/rooms/38062176?source_impression_id=p3_1566823632_GdFSLstmOAewc2Nu

There are no reviews yet and it says the user registered in August 2019. 

Should I trust? Could you please verify? 

Thank you 

Giulia

[Hajar11]

https://airbnb.listing-rooms-56124511.com/1/listing/112/view-qljxotyt/HaRADaDmpQ Can you please check this one out 

[Sarah977]

@Hajar11  That isn't an Airbnb URL. It's a scam, fake Airbnb site.

[Ayo12]

Hi guys we saw this ad on Zoopla and responded and the owner sent us an airbnb link to book, which we think is dodgy, could you help check it out for us

https://airbnb.co.uk.online-rentals.live/1/listing/139/view-mr8bvqs1/j8cLJrD9oA