Government ID vs Selfie

[Hitomi3]

I'm a new host on Airbnb, and I got a booking request from a guest without any previous reviews. I said if he can add government ID verification, I will accept his request.

Now he said he has done it, but his profile only shows 'Selfie' as a new verification (he originally had Facebook, e-mail, and phone). I have never seen this before and am not sure if this is the same as Gov. ID. I have personally gone through Gov ID verification, and my profile says 'Government ID' with a check mark.

I have searched online, and Airbnb help page says a selfie is required as part of the Gov ID verification process. My question is: when the guest profile says 'Selfie' with a check mark under verification section, does that mean they have gone through Gov ID verification?

[Kelly149]

@Hitomi3 also keep in mind, that there are ways around the ID verification (the profile info can be changed after it is verified) and ABB will never share the govt ID info with you, so if actually knowing a real name and address is important to you, then your best course is to ask to see the ID for yourself, either scanned and sent prior to arrival or upon checkin with the guest. You may ask for this, would just need to disclosed within your listing info/rules. I do not let guests stay with me who are not willing to share this info although plenty of hosts don't care (I think these are likely hosts who are in no way sharing space with the guest)

I will also say that there appears to be an issue with how ABB is listing verifications right now, for example I'm fairly certain that for myself I've uploaded govt ID, but right now my profile just says:

"verified email, verified phone, verified personal infomation"

There is another thread in the works here in CC asking ABB for clarification for what is going on with profiles right now. CS might could also tell you just exactly what has been verified on your guest's profile if you call them.

Best to you!

[Oomesh-Kumarsingh0]

@Kelly149 Great advice the scanned ID is always the best option so that to ensure that the guest is genuine and i totally agree with you.

[Hitomi3]

@Kelly149, thanks for your advice.

I would personally not give my ID to hosts nor guests, so equally, I wouldn't ask my guests to directly give it to me either. It is such a sensitive information, and I don't feel comfotable handling their copy of passport, etc. hence the third-party (Airbnb) verification was more ideal for me. Personally, I don't take male guests without reviews, but this guest seemed genuine in his correspondence, so I thought I would be okay if I could have another filter (ID) being added.

That said, it's very helpful to know that there's a technical issue with verification listing! That's something I was wondering. I'm also having so much trouble accessing/posting on this forum, too. Also, thanks for letting me know that I can directly get information as to what has been verified on guests' profile from Airbnb. This is helpful.

[Helga0]

I had a new member booking 3 days ago. “Selfie” showed during the booking procedure. 

He told me, he had to hold his ID card beside his face and take a selfie, to make sure it was no scan and the right person. 

I do not request ID, but all my guests for months were verified. It seems to be standard procedure. And the reason, some people have difficulties to get an account. (Not for missing a passport, but lacking the skills)

[Hitomi3]

Okay, official response from Airbnb.

"A selfie is considered as an additional ID in order to book a reservation but it can not be replaced with the Govt. ID." So, if your guest profile doesn't say Goverment ID, they have not gone through the Gov ID verification. Your guest might be confused as to how to do it, so it may be worth pointing out.

Also thanks to @Kelly149's advice, I have asked Airbnb if my guest has been verified. The agent said he had uploaded a selfie (not Gov ID) but later removed it. So in question, it's worth checking with Airbnb agents!

[David238]

OK, we've established that Gov ID and Selfie are different.  And both are good ideas... but here's a new twist....  I have a guest who's profile says she has a verified selfie... but her public profile shows no picture of her.  It's a picture of some factory in Norway. (I had another who put a picture of mickey mouse on their profile). 

How is it that they can send a selfie but not be required to post a photo of their own face?  I'd like to see my guest's face so I at least recognize them when they arrive.  We often get groups of 3 to 5 staying with us -- how do I know that the original booker is even included in that group? 

What if a travel agent was using a profile to book for customers... or a gang member for their posse.?   C'mon Airbnb... make people put real photos out there.  And then you can "verify" that their selfie is posted (not just that you received it).

DTW

[Gerard-and-Kim0]

I agree the selfie should be an actual picture of the guest. At least that allows me to know that I’m dealing with an actual person and it is not a scam or something. My wife and I are new to hosting and have had a few guest that did not provide their own selfie. I have yet to decline one because of that but I feel safer also because it is their own place & we don’t share it. I would not feel as safe if I were sharing the space with a stranger

[Jan409]

If this is a glitch in the Airbnb system, which I sincerely hope it is, then until they message me back I can't proceed with my booking for this weekend. The hosts have said they will hold the room, but in the meantime I'm wondering how I will pay them. Is this a new form of security? I felt very uncomfortable uploading pictures of my drivers license and passport along with a selfie. Their system didn't recognise them as the same and therefore blocked me from completing my booking. I have been on Airbnb for many years and have never been asked for this. Therefore, wouldn't my booking record so far be enough to prove that I am a secure person to be able to continue to book?

[Yiann0]

I am a newbie in hosting and have had my first guests already, although I am not in situ, and still waiting for their review.

I have the issue of accepting 3 bookings (in particular), which seemed genuine. I have noticed that these guests have not filled in their profiles and worse of all they don't appear to have been Gov. Id verified. I have spoken to CS and they will be in touch with the guests in questions.

For me, it is a must in this day and age, to have an extra level of security for both parties involved that can be handle directly by ABB.

It is concerning to see that similar happenings are still going on since the orinal post was published.

[Susan1154]

I am a newbe as well. With 2 calls to AirBnB prompted by a "Baby Face" profile pic I discovered that the Goverment ID verification is a 2 step process.

1. Online 2. Government ID....BUT if only one, say the online; is verified then the profile will show as "Government ID" verified!

This is HORRIBLE,  false and misleading no protection for host at all! 

[Sameera3]

This is the first time in my life i've ever heard of a "selfie" being required to place a reservation. LOL. WOW.  This is absolutely a ridiculous way to verify an identity. Government ID's, Passports, verified bank accounts and phone numbers, and social security numbers isn't enough? What's next? Live camera's in the properties?  Oh thats already allowed, sorry. This is also very invasive. 

[Eddie67]

Sameera, the reason that hosts want selfies and verified Gov identification is so that they can be sure the person that shows up is the person that booked. Otherwise, the host has no protection against any harm or damage caused by the person. 

If you aren’t happy providing proof of who you are, then please feel free to stop using Airbnb.

[Iain56]

I have just been prevented from bokking because I need to provide a selfie to check against my govt ID which has already been identified. I cannot take a selfie as I do not have a camera on my phone or PC !! 

I am therefore excluded from AirBnB. My profile pic is me, and can be verified by prevus hosts. 

Goodbye Airbnb !

[Sameera3]

I just learned that AirBnB allows to have cameras in a living room? That is a huge security breach in itself, often people are being filmed while logging into bank accounts, so hosts can have access to peoples financial accounts, or even worse, government security access. What about basic human rights? By all means, encourage hosts to place cameras outside of the property to know who comes and goes, or if something bad happens, but placing cameras inside is very communistic.