I Got This Message From Potential Booking Inquiry Potential Scam?

[Walter587]

The message content is in quotes.

"My fiancé is here for business. We love your place and will soon be joining him with our daughter and family, but we have a few questions."

:Is there laundry in the home? On the pictures, I can't see it."

"Are roads OK to travel in night?"

"Please provide me your phone number in the following format: $$404$$865$$1471, and I'll call you to talk."

I suspect this is a scam, but I am not sure.  Asking for a phone number in an unusual format is weird.  Can anyone comment?

**[Phone number hidden due to safety reasons - Community Center Guidelines]

[Eleanor218]

It's a scam. Beware out there! If it seem suspicious, it is.

[J--Brooke0]

I just received the same inquiry requesting a call with that phone number. Sounds like a scam. They provide no information about the purpose of their visit and the size of the party which is requested on the listing. I requested this and got more questions. I am reporting the user after reading all of these comments from last year. Thank you all. 

[Lynda32]

I got mine today on VRBO. I have gotten many of these before on both platforms, but mostly on VRBO. This is the 1st time I have Googled the phone number and I'm really glad to see people are reporting them like this. I usually politely tell them I am unable to call until there is a booking. I will do the same this time but then will go ahead and report it afterwards.   

Thank you so much for doing this everyone!! 

[Sameer68]

I just received this message with same number to call back. I was not comfortable with that. I answered back with VRBO platform with some questions to clarify before confirm booking. They never respond back. Thanks walter for sharing this.

[Sharon683]

Just report it to Airbnb as a scam message. I get weird massages periodically. 

[Anthony2233]

I got the same last night on VBRO (Scam Alert)

[Jess167]

SCAM: I received this message as well twice - each time with a different phone number. The request was for a date 15 months in future, which was odd. I received the first message at 9:30 pm Pacific time, which according to the area code would make it after midnight their time. I explained I only communicate through the app. Although, I did try once to call back and received no answer and no reply. 5 days later I got a similar message with a different phone number and area code, same name.  This was the second message: 

" I think your home looks excellent, barring the service fees. However, I wanted to talk to you first about the service fees (which are absurdly costly). Calling the host provides a personal touch, in my opinion, and most visitors value speaking with the owner. A VRBO booking will be made by me.

Sending me your numbr should be done as follows

$$404$$

$$865$$

$$1471$$

is my numbr)

If you don't want to give me your numbr, call if I don't answer, leave a message; and I'll call you back." 

[Jess167]

Marked this as SPAM on VRBO: 

I have some inquiries and am thinking of coming here for vacation. Is it possible for us to discuss them? Please connect me on this numbr.-($seven-&two*$four($6-$three^five-five$five_#seven-$six$)

[Sophia]

Hi @Jess167, just wanted to drop in to say that if the same happens on Airbnb, you can report it. You can click on the 3 dots in the message thread and report the message (see message) 



Thank you for sharing this with the community to make others aware 🙏🏽

[Kasey80]

Got the same message on VRBO & marked it as spam 

"I have some inquiries and am thinking of coming here for vacation. Is it possible for us to discuss them? Please connect me on this numbr.-$seven$seven($three-$seven)four-$seven($SIX--$two....three-$two)$$--($$)"

[Emily2236]

@Kasey80 I received the exact same message and phone number on VRBO

[Toby171]

Hi,

I just got the exact same inquiry on VRBO. Once I reported them as spam they sent me a second inquiry using a different name but the exact same message and number to call. 

[Martha1142]

I got the same "Inquiry" on VRBO. Interested in renting for a week in December but wanted me to contact them using a weird format  that had a number followed by a State. Wanted to know how close we were to their location of interest. I deleted the messages as he sent 2 back to back requesting my number by text but using that format.  

[William2566]

I got the same scam today. Lol.

Hello, please get back with us. We are interested in your home and would like to know how far the amenities were from the location, reach out pls orSending me your numbr should be done as follows: Please look at the following list and 'remove the states' and use the nmbrs to cal me..... 4 Florida 0 Kansas 4 Texas 8 Kansas 6 Nevada 5 Utah 1 Ohio 4 Maine 7 Iowa 1 Alaska

[Aly27]

I just received a similar message on VRBO with the same phone number.

Hello, please get back with us. We are interested in your home and would like to know how far the amenities were from the location, reach out pls orSending me your numbr should be done as follows: Please look at the following list and 'remove the states' and use the nmbrs to cal me..... 4 Florida 0 Kansas 4 Texas 8 Kansas 6 Nevada 5 Utah 1 Ohio 4 Maine 7 Iowa 1 Alaska

I reversed the number and got here.  I contacted VRBO chat and they told me that they just sent the numbers...go ahead and call if I want.  This is an odd response.