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

[Ana1136]

@Eoin18 I am sorry my answer wasn't posted. This is a listing on the official Airbnb website so we can't tell if it's fake or not. You already booked, how is the communication with the host so far? 

[Eoin18]

Hi Ana. I have just told her my reason for arriving so far and she replied quickly saying that it wasn't a problem. I guess my only option is to hope it's real and that she doesn't cancel!

[Ana1136]

@Eoin18 yes but in case she cancels make sure to contact Airbnb and have them help you with the alternate accommodation. 

[Lori349]

Hello

Can you please let me know if this listing is legit?

https://www.plus-rent.com/rooms/plus/14760002

Thanks in advance. 

[Sarah977]

@Lori349  No, that is not an Airbnb URL. Scam.

[Chloe192]

https://abnb.me/4X4f9f7thX

I am so confused how this could be a scam, as I used the app and payed through the app. But the host has not been in contact with me and the listing has gone from €15.00 to €100.00. Can someone explain what is happening here?

Thank you

[Sarah977]

@Chloe192  The price discrepancy is not your concern, as long as you were charged the price that was listed when you booked. Many times new hosts are unsure how to set their pricing correctly, are unaware that smart pricing is turned on (which sets prices automatically) and Airbnb also sets a discount on new listings, which the host may not have been aware of, and subsequently turned off.

You say the host has not been in contact with you- do you mean they aren't answering your messages?  And how long have you been waiting for communication? If it's only a few hours, give the host a bit more time, as they may be busy, unless your check-in is soon and you haven't received check-in information. 

You can contact Airbnb directly to tell them the host is not responding and they will try to make contact with the host for you.

[Chloe192]

Thank you for your quick response! I booked the airbnb 3 nights ago and messaged asking I could be in future contact about the check in time. Then another one confirming my check in time, both with no responses. I've called and had my friend who speaks Spanish call ..and no response. We're supposed to check in tomorrow. I have been told there is a case manager that should be in contact with me. I read that someone was charged a $100.00 clean fee the morning of their check in and was worried when I saw the price jump to €100.00

@Sarah977 

[Sarah977]

@Chloe192  A host can't charge you anything that wasn't mentioned when you booked and that wasn't mentioned in the listing description. A cleaning fee, if there is one, is supposed to be charged at the time of booking.If the host tries to charge you anything extra when you arrive, contact Airbnb immediately- they simply aren't allowed to do that.

Now if you were to arrive with more people than you booked for (which guests do quite frequently), or showed up with a dog that you had failed to mention, then the host can amend the reservation to add extra guest charges before allowing you into the listing, or add a pet fee, but that's a different case than trying to spring a cleaning fee or any other type of charge on arrival.

[Alice595]

@Chloe192This listing is a real Airbnb listing. After you click in, you can see the URL is

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/35251140?guests=1&user_id=143210062&ref_device_id=8ef9702cf12d6068&_bra...

There is www.airbnb.com/ in URL. The price difference is possible because a host can set up the price by dates. Therefore, one day could be totally different from another day. And a host can make the price change anytime. But once you book at a price rate, that price is locked for your stay.

[Michael3181]

Can anyone tell whether this posting is real?  https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/35404213?location=Munich%2C%20Germany&adults=2&children=2&check_in=2019...

In the posting it says 

[IMPORTANT NOTICE: The calendar is not updated at this point and you have to ASK FIrST if your dates are available !
Ask about on my personal e-malL: mun@ bnbrent. icu
More photos available: e-malL: mun@ bnbrent. icu

Please read! Before you agree to book and pay please ask me if the place is available for the period you request. The calendar might not be updated in real time because I have it listed in different website. Thank you for understanding.]

***************************

The weird capitalization and spacing breaks in the email address make me wonder if this is some kind of scam.  But if this is a scam, how does it work?  When i wrote a note to the above email address asking about availability, i received some photos and the following reply:

[The property is available for your dates. The price per night is €170, a security deposit of €500 is also required which is fully refundable the day you leave the property. In order to start the booking and all the arrangements I will need the following information from you.
Arrival Date:
Departure Date:
Adults:
First name:
Last name:
Country:
I am requesting those details because the calendar is not updated and I need to send an invitation myself through Airbnb. The payment will be handled by Airbnb so they will release it to me only after you check in. As soon as I have the requested information from you, I will start the process through Airbnb and you will then get the booking request.]

*******************************

Is this a scam to somehow get the €500 security deposit from me outside of Airbnb platform?  Or maybe they sent me some kind of malware hidden in the photos (that i clicked)?  thanks.

-mike

Thank you!

[Sarah977]

@Michael3181  Well, that is a legit Airbnb listing, as it's on the real Airbnb site. But the way everything is worded, it is a scam and you should flag it and contact airbnb to report it. Do not email with this person again. 

Apparently these scammers put the listing on Airbnb (as opposed to the scammers who set up fake Airbnb websites) when they have someone email them, so it seems legit. Then, as soon as someone either sends them money or tells them they know they are scammers, they right away take the listing down. I think that's what is happening here- the listing was just put up- because Airbnb blocks email addresses or phone numbers in a listing, so it probably just hasn't been caught yet.

And it's against Airbnb policy for host to ask for a cash deposit on arrival, there's zero reason for the calender not to be updated, and there is no such thing as a host sending "an invitation myself" to Airbnb.

Please report this listing to Airbnb ASAP, along with screenshots of the email he sent you, before some other poor soul falls for it.

[Thomas1448]

Hey there! Can I get anyone’s thoughts on this listing? The owner says it’s a hotel and I’ve just never gotten a hotel room from AirBnB before. The owner did not ask for any transactions outside of AirBnB, and all communication was sent through AirBnB. It still just feels like it’s too good to be true. 

https://abnb.me/IyY4BLcgkX

Thank you in advance! 

[Jed15]

https://abnb.me/JSjhb9eymX is this real he only has an email and phone number and he's only been listing since may 2019 (it probably is I'm just being paranoid)

[Ana1136]

@Jed15 good thing you are paranoid because this is fake url adress.