Call center support scam

[Jason820]

I am starting to get calls from someone claiming to be an Airbnb support representative. They usually have a thick accent. When I ask them to communicate with me via the Airbnb app or via Email, which is how I normally communicate with Airbnb support representatives, they hang up. They have tried to send me a SMS message to confirm my account. But if they are calling me from Airbnb they should already have my account information. I think this is a scam to gain access to my Airbnb account with the intention of changing my payout information to a different bank account. One that the scammers have access to. 

[Karen114]

@Jason820. I had this happen to me several months ago. It all sounded so legitimate, including the Airbnb phone number that showed on my caller ID  and I did almost give them information that they surely would have known. Luckily I hung up before any damage was done.
Just be careful and don’t give them any access to your account as they should already have that if they are truly Airbnb.

I did post about it in the forum and I did call Airbnb to report. I never heard back about it. 

[Rebecca · Accepted solution]

Hi @Jason820 👋

Thank you for sharing that with us. It's fantastic you're so vigilant!

I found an Airbnb article about avoiding fraud, scams, and abuse that provides advice and support. 

[Sandra6931]

everyone should be very careful i got scammed on this company twice, fortunately i was very lucky to get a recovery company site from my good friend who has been scammed $185,400, I contacted the company, the company instructed me what to provide for them which I did and they also gave me guidelines about scam companies. In two days time after I did what they instructed me to do I was able to get my $78,900 funds back and I'm very very happy honestly speaking, I should have dropped this company site link here, but this scam company refused. you can help yourself out by contacting their mail if you are a victim too [**] thanks.

**[Contact details removed -  Community Center Guidelines]

[Karen605]

Hi Jason, 

I have had a similar experience within the last month. First it was a call from AIrbnb telling me that they had implemented more security measures. They had thick accents. I thought it odd but didn't think much about it until they called again a few days later with a similar message. Then last week they called again and saying one of my payout was going to be delayed a few days due to an internal issue. They knew the exact amount so they had access to my account. Shortly after this call I got an email that said a new payout was added. I called Airbnb immediately. I have never changed my pay out. It was supposed to go to a Debit Card: Payoneer (USD). SOmeone in their call center is a scammer. I have NO CONFIDENCE that they are handling this as it should be handled.  I am old school so I called Airbnb rather than making a paper trail of communication. You were smart Jason to tell them to only communicate with you on line. This whole thing freaked me out since this is a big portion of my livelihood.

[Alea116]

Have had this too! When I kept questioning them on why they needed to confirm my details when they rang me they put me on to a "supervisor". Got the same script from them saying that they are now going to be showing us more details about our guests including their full names and emails and security clearance. Then sent an Airbnb verification code which i told them i didnt receive, but i did. I said for them to contact me through the App and they hung up. Then I just received the same call with the same script again....they don't give up beacuse people are obviously falling for their scam. What they are after or what they can gain from my account im not sure as i didnt go any further with it. Its why ive come on here to see if anyone else has had the same thing. Grrr so bloody annoying

[Rinny0]

This just happened to me today. I normally don’t answer calls but since it came across as Airbnb Inc  I thought it was legit. Heavy accent and was telling me stuff  I knew already. When I asked why are you calling me about this  - you are not telling me anything new. She said well  it’s for your information. Then said I’m sending you a verification code.  I informed her this isn’t how Airbnb sends me codes!  Kept insisting this was legitimate from Airbnb. I then told her well I am going to hang up with right now and call Airbnb myself to make sure this is not a scam. 
Contacted Airbnb support and sure enough it was a scam because there was no record of them contacting me. 🤦🏻‍♀️