Airbnb Scam by Scammer Posing as Airbnb Support

[Scott53]

Airbnb hosts, beware. I received a call from Airbnb. I called the number back, and it was an Airbnb number: 415-800-5959. The scammers said they were updating my account with additional services. Unknowingly, they had hacked my Airbnb account. When they called me, they sent me a code to my cell phone and asked me to tell them the code. I didn't realize they were hacking my account. They used the code to get into my account. Once they were in my account, they changed my payment method to a Payoneer Bank debit card and stole the money from my account. Here's what's odd. They had perfect timing. Usually, the payment is transferred directly to my PayPal account automatically. How did they know to call me precisely before the Airbnb payment would be made? It almost seems like it was perpetrated by an Airbnb employee who had inside access. If someone from Airbnb support asks you to read the code sent from Airbnb, DON'T GIVE IT TO THEM. Give them fake numbers to see what they do. An Airbnb support person will not get annoyed. If they ask you more than once for another code, ask them why they are trying to scam you. Ask them if they need the code to hack your account. Tell them you are going to report them. They will probably hang up. The best way to confirm is to have them send you a message on Airbnb that verifies their name. I hope this helps other Airbnb hosts from being victimized.  #Payoneer #PayoneerBank #PayoneerDebitCard

[Joelle43]

Hello @Kurt278 

Have you changed your password??

[Dana1672]

We just got a call from this number so this scam is still continuing from the same number as above 6 months later. Be careful!

[Destine0]

I just got this caller, as well. I hung up on her after she asked for the verification code. I reported it to airbnb and they're looking into it.

[Tyler793]

This same thing happened to me, both with this number (which is a valid Airbnb number) and the Airbnb number I have stored in my phone. It’s an inside job. They changed my payout amounts to $50,000 minimums. Doesn’t look like they were able to steal anything. 

[Fernanda1566]

Thank you for posting this! I got a call yesterday from and today from ‪(415) 800-5959 with the same question of the code. Luckily, someone in a local Airbnb group had flagged about this scam tactic and I told them to stop scamming people and they would be reported. 

[Angee55]

Just had the same thing happen to me. I hung up on them when they asked for a code. 

[Alex]

I'm glad you reacted quickly, @Angee55! Did they tell you over the phone the same thing as Scott?

[Kevin-And-Anne0]

Thanks for this Scott. I assumed this was a scam and just googled the phone number they were calling from and it brought me to this forum. The internet can be great sometimes!

[K-M-0]

Thanks to this post, I didn't fall for the scam. It happened exactly the way you said it would, sent a code to my cell phone to hack my account.

[Blake211]

Just received the same call. We have been Hosts for many years and could tell that it was not the typical "call is being recorded" disclaimer by AirBnB support. They sent the verification code, I placed them on hold and hung up. Hopefully they were not able to access our account. BEWARE! Happening from 415-800-5959 phone number. Reported to AirBnB Support.

[Connie231]

We have received several airbnb support messages over the last few days. The messages just didn't sound legitimate. In the message, they used the same phone number as a contact method. We will proceed by contacting airbnb support. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[Kenyatta3]

This happened to me today. I got a call from the same number. They said they were instituting a new program to assist super hosts with guests that destroy their properties.

From the time the call began the caller was fumbling over his words. English didn't seem like his primary language. When he said he was going to start "the process" I hung up on him and immediately called Airbnb.

Unbelievable.

[Shannon1212]

This just happened to me 5 minutes ago. Exactly how you described. I hung when they asked me to verify the code from text message. 

[Britni12]

This just happened to me today.  I had to cancel a reservation due to a maintenance concern last week and started receiving consistent phone calls from Airbnb support soon after.  I didn't realize until today that the calls were coming from two different numbers because they would come often from both.  They had details about the recent cancelation and reservation numbers that had not had had payments processed along with the exact dollar amounts, indicating that it was due to a security update and super host protections.  Between the actual airbnb and the scam airbnb support I was receiving 3 to 4 calls a day for 7 days.  The exact same number 415-800-5959 was used.  I'd never seen that there was a scam running with this number for over 9 months based on your post.  I'm so frustrated with myself.  

They had perfect timing as well, and the verification questions they were asking were identical to the actual AIRBNB support.  Caller ID for the 415 number comes up as AIRBNB Support, you cannot see the actual number for either REAL or FAKE support until you go back and review your call logs.  That is the only way I could tell there were 2 numbers.  

I reported the concern immediately, because real AIRBNB support called me within 20 minutes of the last SPAM that took my payouts.  I don't know why they called this time either, but she sent me a message through the message center.  It has been escalated to Fraud Alert, but the representative indicated that she was unsure that I would receive the payouts since someone had been paid through my account.  

[Vanessa2712]

This just happened to me this past week. Because it was an Airbnb support number (same one you mentioned) * and they were in my account reading off real names of guests and giving me real information regarding that my payouts were on hold. It said minimums not met. They had changed the minimum amounts to $50,000 so it looked like the account was on hold. It felt weird, but at the same time I saw the actual real life information they were reading me on my account, so I also was like okay, this is strange, but they are clearly in my account. I was also locked out of my account saying there was a security breach and they gave me the password of Airbnb1234 to log back in! It worked to log back in so I honestly trusted the process. Unfortunately I have lost $16,635.36 in payouts. We manage 14 houses and I have alerted Airbnb and it was sent to their specialized team, but no response in over 24hrs other than a “good job changing your password” initial email. I am so frustrated. This is a huge loss for us and I hope to God Airbnb helps us recover this money. It was a real support ambassador and a real support email. Unfortunately Airbnb is being very slow to respond! How did you get through? Just wait on the specialized team to contact you via email? 

*[Sensitive information removed in line with the Community Center Guidelines]