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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807 Replies 807
Jullie2
Level 2
Silver Spring, MD

Hi, I was wondering if you guys could also check this out if it’s a scam: 

 

https://abnb.me/le0jR8qwR0

Sanjay64
Level 1
Toronto, Canada

Fake listing.... looks exactly....says to email outside of AirBnB....then says to send money by bank transfer...name of host is different to name of person to pay....address is a dumpsite!  Check the URL.....it starts of with airbnb but then it is alrbnb  with the 'l' almost looking like the 'i'.

https://www.airbnb.alrbnb-rooms-238543302.com/1/itinerary/17/itinerary-fp30ew6g/qtOAAaOwOw

Def fake.

Albert1605
Level 1
El Monte, CA

Hello can you guys help me out with this link! im about to travel to miami and have second thoughts

 

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/38231554?source_impression_id=p3_1571691000_BrwstMlyMoyKW3hG

Looks extremely shady. 2 Properties, same photos, different titles. 1 has 1 review about it being cancelled.

Patrick1756
Level 1
England, United Kingdom

Hi

 

I’ve seen quite a few scams lately but I think this looks pretty legit, could you let me know your thoughts?


https://abnb.me/FRf2CAwh40

 

thanks

patrick

@Amber395  No, that's not an Airbnb URL- it's a scam.

Jullie2
Level 2
Silver Spring, MD

Hi, I was wondering if this is also a legit Airbnb https://abnb.me/1FQobcgxd1

Egor450
Level 1
Moscow, Russia

Hello, what do u think is it real? https://www.airbnb.ru/rooms/39522405

Aarti10
Level 2
London, United Kingdom

Hi all - do you think think this is legit? 

 

Messaged the 'owner' slightly rude when i asked whether they are able to prove it is a legitimate property. but what do you all think? 

 

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/39770800?adults=2&check_in=2020-01-13&check_out=2020-01-18&children=0...

Tj68
Level 1
California, MD

Perhaps I am being paranoid, we have stayed at a new AirBnB every month this year and this is the first time that I have nerves about a booking. Host has sent me a few messages, but the photos are either from before/after renovations or are taken from elsewhere. For every reason I think it's fake, there is another reason I think it's real: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/19747965?source_impression_id=p3_1573176985_5em8ArzDf%2BYP%2FFCV

 

Mostly I'm concerned no one has stayed there in year+. Their other property has more recent stays though.

Anki139
Level 2
Berlin, Germany

Laurel118
Level 2
Kelowna, Canada

I just tried booking an Airbnb in Nuevo Vallarta and it was $53. Per night but when I went to pay and almost did for two months it was $20,000 dollars I will never book anything like this ever again. Thank goodness I hesitated before I paid thought it must be pesos not Canadian dollars and then fun funbwgan and I knew it was a scam! I may be old but, a little slow but not totally stupid! Sure opened myeyes