Can someone tell me if this is fake? PLEASE

Sebastian957
Level 1
E, Germany

Can someone tell me if this is fake? PLEASE

Hi!

I contacted someone in Bern, that tells me that I can rent this apartment and sent me this link. But im not sure if its fake or not... If its fake, then its a really good work!

 

https://airbnb-ch.longterms-rentals.com/676f/wohnung-in-nordring/d6edc7

 

Thanks for te comments!

12 Replies 12
Mike-And-Jane0
Level 10
England, United Kingdom

@Sebastian957 It looks fake to me

Mark116
Level 10
Jersey City, NJ

@Sebastian957  I think it is fake for two reasons:  the very high 'deposit' and the fact that at least when I click on the photo of the guests it doesn't take me to their actual profiles.

@Sebastian957 

 

https://abnb.me/gIJHke3DNlb 

 

A legitimate link should look like the one above.

 

A common scam involves copying a legitimate listing from Airbnb, then posting it elsewhere and demanding payment privately.

 

 

 

 

 

@Brian2169  FYI that's what links look like on the app. On the desktop, they look different.

@Sarah977 

 

Thanks. It's nice that they have managed to make it even more confusing.

 

I'm sure the scammers appreciate it.

@Brian2169  I'm no techie, so I don't know why the URLs look different on the app and desktop, but I imagine there is some logical AI reason, not just done to be purposely confusing.

 

If I click on that link you posted while I'm on desktop, the URL appears like this: 

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5439130?

 

All listings on desktop have this format, aside from different country designations, as shown in that link I posted to real Airbnb URLs.

@Sarah977 

 

After you mentioned it I noticed that the link I provided looks extremely fake.

 

abnb.me? Really??

 

I really don't understand most of this electronic age nonsense... when I was in school transistors were magic and a pocket calculator cost $1,000 in 1969 dollars. (Hint: the minimum wage was $2.25 an hour and thought to be absurdly inflated.)

 

I remember overhearing the statement, "Ain't no man ALIVE wuth two dollah twenny-fi' cent a hour."

 

It's time for me to join the dinosaurs and contribute to the fossil fuel reserves.

@Brian2169  No, the airbnb.me is real when using the app. It threw me for a loop the first time I saw it, too, because I don't use the app.

 

I would assume that most people, even if they aren't old enough to  remember when they had to walk to school both ways, uphill, wouldn't have any idea why the links would be different on the app as opposed to the desktop, unless they were involved in, or knowlegable about tech stuff.

Emiel1
Level 10
Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

@Sebastian957 

 

It is not an official airbnb website, the main domain also does not have an homepage:

https://airbnb-ch.longterms-rentals.com

 

It is indeed a very well made copy of the Airbnb design.

Even at bottom of page all links refer to the official Airbnb site.

 

This is a violation on Airbnb rights, misleading and most likely a scam.

It should be reported to Airbnb.

Sarah977
Level 10
Sayulita, Mexico

@Sebastian957  Absolutely 100 % a scam. That isn't an Airbnb URL. 

 

Read this so you understand what a real Airbnb URL looks like:

 

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/971/how-do-i-know-if-an-email-or-website-is-really-from-airbnb

 

And Airbnb doesn't have any such thing as a special long term rental dept.

Sebastian957
Level 1
E, Germany

Thanks so much for the quick answer!

@Sebastian957   Airbnb has a list of its valid domains here: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/971/how-do-i-know-if-an-email-or-website-is-really-from-airbnb

 

The one you were sent is definitely a fake. One of the most common scams is where someone advertises a property on another website (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, etc) but then links you to an Airbnb listing (always fake) to reserve it. The really clever ones will phish your login credentials just to view the listings, and then raid your payment method. Whatever site you found this listing on, I can guarantee you it is not a good place to find housing.