How can I tell if a post is real?

Answered!
Anna1808
Level 1
Bellingham, WA

How can I tell if a post is real?

Hello!

 

I recently booked an airbnb in Vancouver but am not sure if it is real. The price is much lower than nearby rentals and the two lowest prices are owned by the same person. Here is a link to the suite:

 

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/29742623

 

Do you think this is fake or real?

 

Thanks!

 

Anna

1 Best Answer
Emiel1
Level 10
Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

Hello @Anna1808 ,

The host has 14 listings according to this information:

https://www.airbnb.ca/users/111619036/listings

But there is only 1 review !

 

 

Host has 2  profiles (But there are no listings !):

https://www.airbnb.ca/users/show/111619036

https://www.airbnb.ca/users/show/209999674

Here are more reviews, but not the best

In this profile host also created a review himself as a guest.... !

 

Something is at least confusing here.

I would contact Airbnb to make a check on this.

 

Hope this helps,

Emiel

View Best Answer in original post

7 Replies 7
Cammy0
Level 9
Vancouver, Canada

Hi Anna,

 

I don't think it is a fake listing, but the host is very new (hence the lower price to gain traction) and there aren't any descriptions on the listing to accurately guage the guests' expectation and experience. Judging by his profile, the only guest review is also from a guest from "Vancouver, Canada" which raises a few questions on the legitimacy of the review as it could be a friend/family helping boost the review rate...but that is only spectulation. Note, this listing is only for a private room in the house and the host has multiple listings for that same house, so it is more of a hostel living situation. Hopefully that provides you more insight- you will be getting what you paid for at $55 a night. 

 

 

Warm Regards,

Cammy

Thanks to both of you! I am happy to hear that you think it might be legitimate Cammy, that makes me feel better. I think I will contact Airbnb to check it out just in case, but hopefully it is sketchy just because he is new like you said. 

 

Thanks!

Emiel1
Level 10
Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

Hello @Anna1808 ,

The host has 14 listings according to this information:

https://www.airbnb.ca/users/111619036/listings

But there is only 1 review !

 

 

Host has 2  profiles (But there are no listings !):

https://www.airbnb.ca/users/show/111619036

https://www.airbnb.ca/users/show/209999674

Here are more reviews, but not the best

In this profile host also created a review himself as a guest.... !

 

Something is at least confusing here.

I would contact Airbnb to make a check on this.

 

Hope this helps,

Emiel

Branka-and-Silvia0
Level 10
Zagreb, Croatia

@Anna1808

hm... he has 4 profile pictures but the first one is blurry, second one is without a head, then pic of a basketball player and a street ??

His title is a phone number (hidden by Airbnb)

No description whatsoever

Multiple profiles, one reviewing other ??

 

I wouldn't book this place, I would recommend you to contact Airbnb and ask them to cancel and refund you.

Sarah977
Level 10
Sayulita, Mexico

@Anna1808 I'd have to agree with @Branka-and-Silvia0. It is a legitimate listing, as far as being on the official Airbnb site, as opposed to a scam site, but it's full of red flags as far as being a decent place to stay. I'd phone Airbnb to cancel and look for another place. 

Emilia42
Level 10
Orono, ME

@Anna1808 

From what I can tell this host - "Kitson" had a previous profile with 129 reviews from other listings (probably the same properties/rooms he’s listed on his new profile.) It seems he got bad reviews so he created a new profile and new listings. I've seen this done before. DO NOT STAY HERE. Call Airbnb and ask them to cancel for you. Or if you booked within the last 48 hours for future dates you can cancel yourself. 

Sarah977
Level 10
Sayulita, Mexico

@Emilia42 Good research. Here's a private feedback I once received from a charming guest:

 

"That was one of the best stays I've had. You wouldn't believe the crap that people put out there and actually charge money for on AirBnB."