Odd interactions?

[Ange2]

Hello, Wondering if anyone else has experienced this, it is new to me. I have had a few inquiry and reservation requests recently, profile all but empty, no reviews. I ask them to fill in and read description / ask any questions.  Their response, "I can book now", "What is address" etc. I ask what language they understand/speak even though some are based here in the same city, and send all again in their language. Same response "I can book now?" "What is address?".  And on it goes with their incessant "can I book now?",  "it is ok now?"  and no response to anything I have sent.   One cancelled after a frustrating back and forth saying "they wanted to think about it" -  so I assume they did understand and even speak english!  I probably should have just declined at their first response but I wanted to give them a chance if it was a language barrier I was dealing with.

I have never experienced this level of prolonged obtuseness. Most just don't bother to respond if they don't want to supply any information or answer any questions. Dud accounts? Trolls? Airbnb experiment? Any ideas? Or is this normal fare for many? Thanks for any insight.

[Tracie5]

I would decline right away. I think it's a scam. Also makes me nervous when they ask for address like that. I go with my gut on these.

[Ange2]

Thank you @Tracie5

The problem is, if I decline off the bat it gives no benefit of the doubt to new Airbnber's or possible language barriers and  I am (have been) penalized if I decline reservation requests (even inquiries, it seems).  I feel between a rock and a hard place.  This prolongued obtuseness is new to me and thus odd! (or maybe I have just been lucky up to now), usually they respond or I never hear from them again.

[Ginny10]

I have never heard of an Airbnb rule about a host turning down guests. I live in the house where I offer rooms, so I turn down those who indicate a problem.

[David126]

Sounds automated, harvesting data?

NY has issues with STR's. maybe they have outsourced collecting data.

[Ange2]

@David126  Interesting. I am assuming they cannot harvest any data if the guest was declined. Or can they? I looked it up but couldn't find any particular purpose to it.

[David126]

They asked for your address?

Who knows, I would personally answer once and then if it still is weird flag them and forget about it.

I have not has such queries, but I am in the boonies.

[Ange2]

@David126   One asked for my address but I told him - No, he needed to have a confirmed reservation first,  and for me to accept him he would need to add some information on his newly minted profile.  But, it is not uncommon for first time users to be unaware of the importance of verification and not know Airbnb rules.

[Linda108]

@Ange2  Your posting made me realize that our good hearts can make hosts vulnerable to the new world of scams.  Now that Air BNB is becoming much more visible, I think scammers are taking advantage.  Real newbies will probably figure it out even if there is a language barrier. 

[Tania-and-Andrew0 · Accepted solution]

I recently had a similar experience, it was a spam message from a guy asking me if I wanted to promote. Usually Airbnb has a list to choose as to why you are declining an inquiry or booking. I only use this if it's a scam or a third-party booking. As you well mentioned you get flagged if you keep declining willy-nilly.

I have had a share of first-timers. Usually, when they start by "Hello, how much for X nights? Reply to my email xxxxxx or phone xxxxx" I just answer something like: "Hello! I see you are a first-time user, as stipulated by Airbnb, you can't share your personal information until the booking is finalized. Our listing's price is up to date so if you choose the correct nights and dates you should be able to see the final price". And just pre-approve their inquiry.

Hope it helps! Also, if you keep having these types of messages, try contacting Airbnb, it is probably a phishing scam.

[Bob39]

That sounds like a scam and you should just decline them and move on.


For first-timers, guests using Airbnb for the first time an have no reviews, I think you should use the Airbnb message system and just exchange some messages for a while before approving their request to book. You can tell a lot about them just by their answers and their communication habits. Probably more than you can tell from verifications or reviews.


I had a couple who stayed the past 2 nights, first-time Airbnb users with no reviews, and I could tell from his messages that they were legit, and he seemed polite and considerate. They turned out to be excellent guests. So just chat with them before accepting a booking. You can tell a lot from their communication.