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

[Josephine253]

Hello I would like your thoughts on this listing:

https://abnb.me/M0FRw0IS7kb

when I booked there was an issue with double booking in the last days of my booked stay, through booking.com and Airbnb 

I happened to talk to another person who booked the same place and had the same issue with double booking and she therefor cancelled the booking and said she thought it was a scam

i am now worried as I have already booked, paid and I am going there next week

please let me know your thoughts!

[Alyson47]

hi was wondering if you can help .. my son found an apt thru a sublease website … when you click on the picture it brings you to an airbnb app it looks real … she was first month /security wired to her bank in spain .. she says she’s there for work .. the apt is ridiculously cheap with all utilities included . .. i know the building and if you were to just rent thru a realtors it would gf almost 4000 more a month .. you can rent this for 1 month to 5 years .. she also states that once she receives the deposit ., all communication will go thru airbnb .. 

one other thing are the pictures of the apt she says it’s fully furnished but the furniture she’s showing is not hers… people renting thru a realtor have the same furniture 

does this sound  like  a scam 

[Sarah977]

@Alyson47  It is 100% a scam. That isn't how Airbnb works. Guests don't wire money to anyone.

Did you read any of the 600 posts on this thread that expose exactly this scam?

[Elspeth14]

Hi, please can you take a look at this? https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/553318906934066390/photos?check_in=2022-02-13&check_out=2022-02-19&pr...

Thanks. Will you be able to let me know if ok or fake?

[Sarah977]

@Elspeth14   When I click on that link it says "You don't have permission to access this resource".

So something is wonky, for sure. And when I just tried again, no listing in showing at all. Maybe it was a scam and got removed. 

Since I can't see it, what made you wary?

[Elspeth14]

It got removed! Def scam. 

Whats app for availability, no reviews, no service charge.

Was sent this by e mail in case anyone from air bnb wants to look.  

**[Private conversation removed in line with the Community Center Guidelines]

[Sarah977]

@Elspeth14  No one from Airbnb reads the posts here. This is just a discussion forum for hosts and guests.

Good you didn't get scammed. 

[Lukas272]

6 beds Sea view huge villa near Albena and Varna - Villen zur Miete in Осеново, Варна, Bulgarien (ai...

Is that fake or real?

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Lukas272 with 21 reviews why would it be fake. Just make sure you pay through Airbnb and all should be fine.

[Colby40]

https://abnb.me/H00ldZk02nb

[James3073]

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/32496511

[Sarah977]

@James3073  Looks like a perfectly legitimate listing to me. Did you see that he has 7 listings and 17 reviews in total? It's a property with a bunch of separate cabins.

Why do you have doubts about it being a scam? 

It's a bit odd that he has no reviews since 2019, but maybe they were closed due to Covid or were renovating. 

There's a couple bad reviews, which you won't ever see on a scam listing.

You could send the host an inquiry message (using the Contact Host button in the listing ad) and ask why the last review is from 2019.

And as a new guest with no reviews, you might have a difficult time being accepted at any listing, as your profile is incomplete. Upload a real profile photo, fill out your bio, and upload verified ID. Most hosts are wary of accepting a new guest with no reviews who hasn't bothered to do any of that.

[Can1371]

Guys, what do you think about this one? https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/586769377165891425?source_impression_id=p3_1647971849_FBwelRAFqub3M%2B8...

The place has just one single review and that review has been written buy a guy who also lives in Paris and has a listing in Paris.

The host has 100 reviews, all positive but dating back to 2017 mostly and I suppose not for the same apartment.

The place costs 1000 EUR for 6 nights in April. Does this price sound too good to be true for such a large apartment in Paris city centre?

[Lauren3193]

I just a little worried about this Airbnb we just booked. It has no reviews , but it is a new listing and a new host 

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/551433316502761160?check_in=2022-05-01&check_out=2022-05-06&guests=5&ad...

[Sarah977]

@Lauren3193  So why did you book it if you were worried about it? 

I don't understand why guests don't seem to realize that if they are leery about something, they should just send an Inquiry message to the host- you know, actually communicate to get a sense of the host and ask any questions.