Fake Listing in Sydney, Australia

[Kat-and-Chris0]

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/13415670

I think the above link is a fake listing.  I had been looking for an apartment in Sydney.  The listing was perfect for my family but then the host asked to email instead.  Asked for identification via email as well.  I think have screwed up there sending a photo of my ID.  The next email from them was asking me to pay via the "Airbnb" invoice they sent me.  It looked odd to me.  I've been using Airbnb for years and never seen an invoice like that.  It also asked for a direct wire transfer to a bank in Netherlands because there were problem with paypal, credit cards and debt cards transactions on Airbnb.

  

Funny enough my husband is Dutch so I asked if they were too.  No reply yet.  But this all screams fake/scam.  

I forwarded the email to Airbnb already and flagged the listing.  Is there anything else I should do to warn ppl?  I am now really worried what they would do with my ID and address info.  Although my ID is just a local Hong Kong ID card...I'm a bit worried about stolen identities.  I've never had any problem like this before with Airbnb so I'm a little freaked out.

[Robin4]

@Kat-and-Chris0......Since you put this post up, I have been doing a bit of searching because I have seen those exact 'apartment' shots before....and it certainly was not in the Sydney CBD....in fact it wasn't even in Australia. Unfortunately I can't find the relevant shots just now, but absolutely everything about this listing appears to be false. From the bizzare description with it's emphasis on private contact and bank details prior to booking which is absolutely against ABB policy there is absolutely nothing in this listing that links that property to Sydney Australia!

Report it and try and distance yourself from any ID you may have given.

Cheers.....Rob 

[Kat-and-Chris0]

HI Rob....Thank you so much for your comment/reply.  I flagged them already so hopefully Airbnb will take care of them.  There was no direct contact to report the host...I could only flag the listing.

Initially I thought they were just being careful but then it felt off.  They told me they were not Dutch but that Airbnb's bank is in Netherlands hence the Dutch banking details. 

They gave me a number to whatsapp with them too.  +1 (415) 651-7038. I'm pretty sure this is an USA number.  Tho I can't remember which state 415 is from.

[Ann3]

(415) area code is the San Francisco area.  Pretty sketchy.  Keep us posted!

[David126]

Seems to come up every week and of course not just an AirBnB thing, happens elsewhere as well.

Easy enough to harvest photos from the web, does not need to be another AirBnB listing, make it a good deal and wait.

What surprise me is the bank account, usually it is difficult to set up an account without good ID, I assume the idea is to have mutiple listings with the same account details and take out the cash as it comes in for as long as they can before the account is closed. Then re start.

One posted a few months ago was very distinctive, the original photos came from a UK Estate Agent listing that had also had coverage on a newspaper. They had listed on AirBnB inat least 3 different cities, no doubt more listings on other sites.

The telephone call caould be routed aanywhere, easy enough to set up. Likewise they could be based anywhere, usually it is obvious that English is not their first language.

Sometimes they use hijacked accounts so can look real but they will never have reviews for that listing.

[Marie21]

You are right it is a scam on French TV news few been reported happening in Uk

and few french tourists got cought booking and loosing it all

But a mistake not to make is to paid outside airbnb payment system that should ring bell to anyone

But some guests still want bargain and get cought in such a scam

anyone can create a fake invoice with ABB logo

[Nicholas44]

Thank you Marie.

What is the responsablity of Airbnb?

Do you think I could claim my loss?

The guest had been misinformed by emails , the fake emails and thought she was booking an entire place.

She showed me the emails.

Having my account hacked it is a security issue and a responsability that ABB has to endorse.

Let me know.

Thank you.

Nick.

[David126]

@Nicholas44

I am not aware of any security breaches by AirBnB, all the cases I have seen have been down to the Host.

[Louise0]

Those scammers have multiple fake listings in Sydney.  I've reported them many, many times and even posted about it on this board.  Yet still, Airbnb won't do anything about it.   WHY?!!!!