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

1 Best 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.

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803 Replies 803

Is this listing legit? Seems too good to be true for the price.

 

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/29287839?check_in=2019-02-15&check_out=2019-02-20#expanded-map

Scam? It seemed legit but now it’s seeming more and more like a scam http://airbnb.com.listings-4946988.com/1/listing/15/view-5945prxp/3QXnTqyWKw

Pietro179
Level 2
Rome, Italy

Dear Airbnb team, we’re considering booking this property https://abnb.me/UXGVTF6BkS

it has no reviews although everything seems legit (also reverse searching photos showed nothing)... what do you think?

 

many thanks!

@Pietro179 That is not an Airbnb URL. It's a scam.

https://airbnb.listing-rooms-56124511.com/1/listing/112/view-qljxotyt/HaRADaDmpQ  Please can you tell if this one is real I need to know ASAP 

Pietro179
Level 2
Rome, Italy

@Sarah977 but it is on the Airbnb app! How can it be a scam if it’s on airbnb?

Elena87
Level 10
СПБ, Russia

@Pietro179

 

I disagree with @Sarah977 as abnb.me is a legitimate mobile url used on the airbnb app, at least in Europe.

 

Looking via a pc also identifies the apartment with www.airbnb.com/rooms/30344421

 

Well what can you say, sometime in the recent past these types of ski chalets were popular for criminals to dangle in front of bookers as they go for a very high yield. Of course, a scammers objective is to try to set a plausable tale and to try to get you away from the official site and eventually ask you to wire money, obviously something that should never ever be done.

 

The sniff test - well zero reviews for a start, the host has two properties, extremely basic verification offered by the host and carried out by airbnb - very limited information about either property, written only in English and not in the local French /Italian or German. Hardly any photographs (only four pictures for a four bedroom chalet?) - photos shown are professionally set as if for hotel/showroom purposes which for me profoundly contradicts the rest of the listing. No rules given. Very weak refund policy selected.

In fact, a lot of this does potentially add up to how scammers typically operate, without it being conclusive in this case I'd add.

 

You may decide to contact the vendor via the airbnb site to establish communications, however with the caveat to proceed extremly carefully and with the golden rule strictly never to go outside the site.

 

 

If you owned a place like this Peter, is this how you would choose to personally market it? 

Of course maybe if you were new to airbnb, short of time - it's possible.

For me, for peace of mind I'd personally prefer somewhere with provenance.

 

Do come back and let us know what you think.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Thank you Elena!

 

In any case, the guy came back to my questions today saying that the property is not available on the selected dates! Even more mysterious! 🙂

 

Thank you!

P

@Elena87  Thanks for correction, I didn't know that as legit URL.

Frederik25
Level 1
Sainte-Thérèse, Canada

http://airbnb.booking-list84767300.online/1/listing/89/view-ff6hnlxh/A3WKWs15iA

 

I feel like this link is a scam if someone could validate my suspicions please. I've received it by email. Thanks!

@Frederik25

 

That's not a legitimate url Frederik , walk away,

Michael2531
Level 2
Memphis, TN

Hello, I’m looking for a place in Jackson Hole,Wyoming for a group of 10.. came across a place that has “New” on the listing but this place looks incredible but only listed for 450/night... host told me to email them dates as their personal calendar wasn’t synced with Air Bnbs. They also said they have to send me an invite to book? This true? 

 

im thinking this has scam written all over it. 

 

https://abnb.me/qQOr1URswS

Christien4
Level 1
Rancho Cucamonga, CA

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/30740102?location=Indio%2C%20CA%2C%20United%20States&adults=6&guests=6&...

 

Hi, can anyone help me confirm that this is a legitimate listing?

Hello,

 

A few days ago I contacted a landlord (outside of airbnb) as I was interested in renting their apartment. This person told me that they currently reside abroad and that I need to pay the first month of rent and deposit (NZD 900 in total). They told me this could easily be done through airbnb as my payment would be protected and their account was officially certified. I was also told that an airbnb agent would contact me during my first week there and make me sign a contract. If I disliked the apartment I could easily get my NZD 900 back. Today, I was sent this link:  http://www.airbnb.com-rooms-online59171.eu/home/listing/5a80f1/?rent=2364587?id=94202 however, since the website denied my access I attempted to change the link according to the airbnb format:  http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/236458?id=94202. But since Airbnb tells me this listing is no longer available I am beginning to have doubts; could this be a scam? I have already disclosed my full name, Whatsapp number and email and I do not want to go any further without being sure that I am not being tricked. 

 

Thank you,

 

Ginevra 

@Ginevra16 This is a scam. Do not engage in any further contact with this person. Airbnb doesn't work like that- there are no such thing as Airbnb agents who meet you, give you keys or give you contracts to sign, nor any such thing as an account being "officially certified". There are pages and pages of posts here on this forum with exactly the same scam posts.

You should stick to legitimate booking sites to find a place, not just contact people posting ads anywhere.