Possible Phishing Scam by guest

[Christa17]

I have been hosting for 3 years.  I had this conversation today.  I feel that it could be a scam....thoughts? I have NOT approved their inquiery.  My gut says to wait and see if they get back to me and give me more info.  

GUEST: hello Christa(URL HIDDEN)want to reserve this cottage for my husband and I,, He want to talk to you first about this cottage.. if you have a chance to call him on his numb(PHONE NUMBER HIDDEN) his name Mike... we would like to check in 0ct 3 to oct 7.. 2016... thank you

ME: Hi Jean, Airbnb does not allow you to share phone numbers or private emails over their network (it blocks them). But your husband is welcome to chat with me through this messaging service. I am working on my computer now and available to answer all questions. Best, Christa

GUEST: ok.. how could we make sure this is legit website,, this is our first time to used... is there any contact number we can call in that place

ME: You mean Airbnb?

GUEST: I will confirm my reservation tonight I have to go to work now

(End of conversation)

Thanks! Christa

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

Could be suspicious - or could be elderly couple not that familiar with AirBnB, etc....

Wait and see, but it's not a good start.

No reviews, etc...I guess...and English is not their first language either it would seem. But then about 50% of our guests are newbies.

[Karen77]

This doesn't seem suspicious to me.  Rather, it seems these people are not familiar with how Airbnb works.   I had something similar happen recently and have been having to coach my guest all the way through.  In your case, the added challenge includes a lack of fluency in English.  

[Peter71]

I have had to coach new users through the system: check the date they joined Airbnb.  If I'm hesitant about the guests, I ask them to tell me more about themselves.   That tends to weed out the ones I wouldn't want...

[Momi0]

@Christa17  All of the other hosts are all correct.  I have had this happened more then a few times. Its quite obvious that she is not familiar with Airbnb, not familiar with websites that allow for people to stay in other peoples homes, paying through this website, ETC, plus she decided to spend a few minutes looking up listings before she had to go to work, and English is definitely not her first language.  Wait to see if she writes you again.  But in the meantime, as long as you have replied to her, you are good to go on the Airbnb response time status.  Thank you for being so wonderful in your reply.  And don't worry, ever since Airbnb put out those fun commericals on every Major Network across the world, there are many of us hosts who are getting these kind of messages.....just keep doing you.  🙂