Weird, malformed messages supposedly from Airbnb

[Simon256]

First of all, I apologise in advance for this really basic question. I just subscribed to a site that I believe to be the genuine Airbnb site - the name seems legit, certificate checks, etc. However, the SMS verification texts it sends me are malformed and remind me of spammers trying to bypass spam filters. They look exactly like this:

from: Frogner (who or what is 'frogner'?)

text: #### is your . verification code. (note the weird syntax)

from: Pointers (what pointers? where's the company name?)

text: . security code: ####. Use this to finish verification. (syntax all wrong again)

I'm having concerns about adding my bank card number to this site account. Does Airbnb really send such weird messages or did I fall for some scam?

[Ben205]

@Simon256

Hi. Looking at your profile, you joined Airbnb in August. I'm confused that you said you've just subscribed. Have you joined twice? Did you join just once a couple of weeks ago?

[Simon256]

Not sure as to what extent it relates to my question, but yes. I subscribed to Airbnb merely 2 weeks ago. I'm 45 and 2 weeks isn't that much of a time span to me, given that I've been a member of numerous other websites for decades. Sorry for any possible misunderstandings.

[Ben205]

@Simon256

Wrong tone, I'm trying to help (which nobody else has, yet).

I'm trying to establish a timeline, to see if somebody could have hacked your account. I'm thinking you subscribed a couple of weeks ago and have just tried to complete the subscription and verify your account, and the messages you describe are recent? My point being, if you were doing this in one go and are confident the website you used is Airbnb, then the chances of being hacked are pretty low.

But, if you part completed the process two weeks ago and have just come back to it, there is more possibility that your data has been compromised. If that's the case, I would definitely contact Airbnb to check. Their details are on this forum (have a search).

By the way, I'm 50!

[Marzena4]

@Ben205 So you would be surprised how referrals work: once someone is sent a referral link, Airbnb assumes it as the date of joining in, even if that person completes their registration much later.

[Ben205]

@Marzena4

Yes, only there's no mention of a referral and Simon says he joined two weeks ago. Which to me increases the chances his data has been compromised in the meantime. It's unlikely, but I'd definitely want to check with Airbnb before giving bank details. Hopefully, he'll find it's just the crazy Airbnb text system!