Unsolicited email enquiry for accomodation

[Richard158]

Hi, I've recieved a direct email enquiry (not via Airbnb) for 36 nights accommodation. It was sent by [Personal information hidden] [Email address hidden] to 'undisclosed recipients'. Any reply is directed to the recipent [Email address hidden]

Airbnb is the only place we advertise our accommodation, so it seems their site might have been hacked to get my email address?

Has anyone else received the same? I'm assuming it is a scam. I have forwarded the email to phishing@airbnb.com

[Marzena4]

Hello @Richard158. Since it was sent to undisclosed recipients, the sender possibly didn't have your exact address - no hacking - but generated it. Blacklist the sender. No worries.

[Richard158]

Thanks  @Marzena4  But my wife and I (she is host and I co-host) each received the same email simultaneously which would make such an explanation quite unlikely. It is a worry as Airbnb holds a lot more private data than just our email addresses.

[Marzena4]

Yes, indeed it is, @Richard158 😞 The truth is Airbnb is bloody bugged and hosts are not being informed should an issue emerge.

[Fred13]

I get these all the time, most time via Spam. I simply ignore them.

[Elena87]

@Richard158

It could be a bit of false logic for you to assume airbnb has been hacked.

Junk email senders can buy lists (legally and illegally) of email addresses, garner them from the web using special tools or even lift them from an unguarded or compromised email inbox of anyone who’s ever emailed you or whom you’ve ever emailed.

I get bent emails from 'banks' I have never banked with but sometimes these details may add up and it may sow some seeds of doubt.

Probably the email you received pretty much didn't have any details on it, purposely vague.

Maybe the next step was the 'dud overpayed cheque - request for a refund' ploy, who knows.

[Janice100]

I have also recieved this email today. Exactly as yours for same duration

[Edwin57]

You have to remember people and friends do talk and share some information including email I also receive this kind of email I just redirect them to Airbnb once friends or even family knows you have an Airbnb they tell thir friends thinking they are helping my Dad tells me all the time do not let your friends or family asking about using your place without using Airbnb  is a must they go though Airbnb 

[Louise-And-Jef0]

I recently received a similar enquiry a few weeks. 

The good news, if there is any in Richard's story, is that his request was not received through the Airbnb site.  In my case the query was received directly on the other hosting site that I use.  Not only did I find it worrisome that this other site exercises so little control over their users, but three weeks after I reported the incident I still have not received as much as an acknowledgement. 

Personally, in the two years I have used Airbnb, I have had no issues with them.  But, as they say in the trade, caveat emptor and if you receive a request that sounds too good to be true, it is probably because it is excatly that. 

[Karen442]

I too have had this email via my email address listed on airbnb -I've marked it as junk but it's concerning and airbnb should look into whether the email addresses have been issued to one person who is consistently cancelling their bookings perhaps if they aren't admitting to hacking.

[Karen442]

The names of these people are francoise and his wife for 36 nights.

[Stuart71]

Hi  - We have also received the same communication.

[Leandra6]

Ahhh! Just got the infamous Raymond Lavalle email, 

but my email is out there in the internet world, as I have a web page!