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

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

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

Top Answer
Cynthia-and-Chris1
Level 10
Vancouver, WA

Welcome to Airbnb!

 

Here are a few things you can do to make sure the listing is real:

 

(1) Look at the reviews and make sure they seem to talk about the same place you are booking

(2) If the listing says anything about contacting the host outside of Airbnb before booking, DO NOT - this is a well-known scam.

(3) Look at the listing - if it seems "too good to be true" (aka luxurious penthouse for a super low rate) it probably is!

 

You can also post the link here and we can weigh in on our thoughts.

View Top Answer in original post

820 Replies 820

Thank you. I’ve been emailing with them back and forth was nervous because the address was blurred on google maps

Deleted by poster.

Mike-And-Jane0
Top Contributor
England, United Kingdom

@Graham371 It is really not difficult. If it is on the Airbnb website then 99.9% it is real. If it isn't then when you arrive and contact Airbnb to tell them it doesn't exist then the host will not be paid and will have gained nothing by the scam.

Do you have a particular concern with this listing?

Good day

My parents were sent the below link for a long term lease in Bristol. I cannot find the same directly through the App.

 

Do you think it's a scam/fake..?

 

https://airbnb-rooms.6743789264uk478472.xyz/rooms/template.php?kode=SP642UH176&ukode=47995668

 

Best Regards

Giancarlo 

.

@Giancarlo185 

 

This is not a genuine airbnb internet adress. Pretty sure this is a scam.

 

This a new listing... No reveiws... Seems a bit weird... When I first clicked it was a super host named Tatiana who had been a member since 2016 with a bunch of reveiws... An hour later the host changed to Monica a member since May 2021 with no reveiws... Also, the price dropped from the first time I seen the listing (when Tatiana was the host) to the second time (now Monica is the host).  Any thoughts?

 

@Paelys0  That does sound a bit odd. Are you aware that you can send an inquiry message to the host? Just click on the "Contact Host" button you'll see when scrolling down on tne listing page. Sending an Inquiry doesn't obligate you in any way. Just tell the host what you posted here and ask for an explanation.

 

I'm not sure why guests seem to think they have to just take a chance on booking a place that they have doubts about instead of communicating with the host. There could be a perfectly logical explanation- Tatiana may have just sold the place, removed her listing, and the new owners put up a fresh listing. Airbnb listings aren't transferrable, so when there is new ownership, it will show as a new listing, with no reviews. But for that to change from one hour to the next is what is really weird.

45521314-76AF-4147-903A-A178FE42B261.jpeg914FFBAD-3571-487F-B415-F4F1E75427B6.jpegHi, thank you for The platform and for helping others here.

 

Thinking of booking this place but I am not sure. Starting to get a weird feeling. Is there anyway to confirm that this is a legit listing on Airbnb.

 

https://abnb.me/Zwc5YO7VPhb

 

I’ve run into situations where the host name is real but the photos are not, or vice versa.

 

What do you think?

Mike-And-Jane0
Top Contributor
England, United Kingdom

@Frank1396 it looks ok but weird. How will you fit all those airbeds into 1 room?

@Bartosz14  That isn't an Airbnb URL.

Can someone help me does it look like a legit stay? There’s only one review and it’s been a host for over a year.

 

https://abnb.me/Woq38Ic4xkb