I think potential scams anyone else seeing this?

[Marie8425]

I get contacted for a reservation, because of my location my business is usually work travel so longer stays.  Last night the request was 1 month because work relocation.  The profile was validated and good standing created in 2018,  Two positive reviews but when I looked closer the 2 reviews were in March and April 2023.  Seems odd that you don't use for 5 years and suddenly you need accommodations every month.  Last night was my 3rd time with this situation this year.

[Marie8425]

My location is not touristy  so my normal business is long term work related stays.

This year last night was my 3rd inquiry wih similar situation

1 month request work related transfer so just while they look for permanent housing not unusual request  I checked profile created in 2018 validated no issues 2 5 star reviews.  I loo closer the reviews are March and April 2023 the request for my listing May.. No activity on profile 5 years suddenly needs accommodations 3 months in a row.  I declined I suspect since I have seen more than once Hackers have figured out a way to get control of inactive accounts.  I accepted the first one but he made me nervous after acceptance so he agreed to cancel and I authorized 100% refund I didn't want to be involved in a scam.  Unexpectedly at my home address a man that my cameras recorded identified himself as the guest cancelled demanding to discuss with me the reservation.  The profile picture was a skinny long haired blond at the beach the man with my address was not skinny had short dark hair and a beard not the same person.  I called police Reported to Airbnb I don't know who but the profile account was closed and I don't know who was given my address

[Marie8425]

Happen again this weekend  All accounts have been created in 2018 but never used until 2023  All bookings in 2023 have been for 30 days.  Very odd

[Bhumika · Accepted solution]

Hi @Marie8425 ,

I wanted to share this thread with you which potentially addresses a few similar concerns, in case you wanted to have a look: here.

I hope it helps!

[Marie8425]

The potential scam from the first one I approved but messages later at 5 pm on the check in date om the day he is coming to Arizona from another state his company changes his contract days.  Businesses don't change contract dates after normal business hours on the day you should be traveling not sitting at home in another state.  Especially since my listing states I will not do check ins after 7 pm.  Account verified created in 2018 lack of rental history prior to 2023 was explained as Airbnb being hard to use.  Doubtful but maybe for some.  I canceled because I didn't believe the last minute changes.  I refunded 100%.  Just told the customer sorry I am uncomfortable I gave the refund he said thank you no arguments  I thought all done.  Then 3 days after I gave the refund a man showed up at my home identified himself has Brian Joy ( the name I was given as the customer demanding to speak to me regarding cancellation.  It was not the same person as the profile picture and there was nothing to discuss no argument going on.  I have am aide because I am wheelchair bound I could see on my cameras and her because I could hear him say Brian Joy I told my aide lock the door and dial 911.  I had a video with sound I sent airbnb support.  They wont tell me if they verified the man at my house or the man in the profile picture  So are criminals that would not pass screening hacking accounts that have been verified and booking under the verified persons account without them being aware someone is stealing their identity.  

Does a known rapist, killer or thief now have my home address?  Sure some of their recent stays have good reviews but why always older 5 year accounts, why always no activity until 2023 why is someone inactive 5 years but in 2023 they have needed 30 day stays consecutively at different addresses?  One person  hen I was checking 4 recent Airbnb rentals consecutive months and 1 rental already in my city.  Her response not available for another stay again not the truth the room was available.  I don't know if a money scam I returned money I received so if stolen cards I don't know.  What does appear to be happening is criminals are using verified accounts to identity steal. Since Airbnb support though I messaged numerous times kept telling me I couldn't have customers private information which I didn't ask for I gave them my video they wouldn't tell me if Brian Joy was the name validated they wouldn't tell was the man in my video was the man validated, I don't know but he knows my info.  I told Airbnb Support I took off Instabook, I turned off Selfcheckin, I have added to my listing IDs required to check in because I don't know what is happening and Airbnb Support responded that is good case closed

[Bhumika]

Hi @Marie8425 ,

Although I was glad you were able to cancel the bookings I am so sorry to hear about what followed the cancellations.

I totally understand your worries, but also wanted to share why the teams would not have been able to share further information with you. You may also check the same article, to know more about how Airbnb verifies identities. : https://www.airbnb.co.uk/help/article/1237#section-heading-9-0.

I will also forward your feedback to the appropriate teams. Meanwhile, please feel free to add your experience via the Feedback Form as well.

[Marie8425]

I am sorry I do not agree that  guest knows my confirmed identity and in this cas my confirmed residence but neither the guest or Airbnb is required to give me the Legal name or even confirm or deny the actual man who appeared at my house recorded that Airbnb not me gave  him my private information was the man validated.  

I m sorry but to me that actually says using Airbnb is more dangerous then safe for me the host.  As the guest I can upload any ID to Airbnb my sister's nobody checks even if I perform a criminal act trespassing.  My personal home s not designated public it is private residence which requires I authorize anyone on my property.  The name on the profile and submitted to me is not required by Airbnb to be the guest's legal name that was validated I don't know why i wouldn't be but I am not a criminal but as a host Airbnb requires that my profile match my ID 

The guest nows who they are renting from but I have no Idea.  

Since the account was closed after I informed the man at my house I called 911.  Seems to me that an 5 year account with no issues suddenly closing but I am still here, sys something illegal was happening with that account.

Instead of telling me how the guest is protected, tell me how I am protected.  Can the supposed Brian Joy open an account with another fake name use the same ID with Airbnb and try to reserve with me again?  I won't know it was my trespasser until he is at my home again but this time with a valid invite

[Marie8425]

Oh and because I do follow the rules before i posted here I submitted 3 separate feedback forms to Airbnb  Not important enough to receive even acknowledgment.  Sure it was illegal behavior but only a misdemeanor stop complaining Marie

[Bhumika]

Hey @Marie8425 ,

As I mentioned previously, I have also passed it on to the Airbnb team along with your feedback and concerns.

I hope someone will reach out to you to provide further information!

[Marie8425]

Oh and just to be clear, yes mt Arizona account is a new hosting account  I am from Hawaii though were I was I guess now called cohost on Airbnb with normal vacation rental issues hich I dd receive helpful support from Airbnb Support for 15 years before I became ill.  March 2001 to July 2016.  So I am not careful because inexperience I am careful because we used multiple platforms in Hawaii and I have been exposed  to things like theft of my cable tv boxes again I don't know if there is a reason.  I have submitted this formally to Airbnb Support 4 times and Airbnb Feedback 3 times , with just great Marie you protect yourself case closed.  That was not Airbnb before, I didn't always win disagreements but I did feel that a proper review was done.  This time everyone's response is a proper review of criminal activity is not important.  There might of just been a stupid but innocent reason the man trespassed maybe I wouldn't of agreed with his answer but Airbnb checked and determined he just needed o be educated .  Okay just an idiot. This time everyone wants me to understand his privacy is secure.  Yes he violated my privacy by performing a criminal act but Airbnb won't ask him if he did or not because asking him is he using the site legally or illegally would violate his privacy

[Helen744]

@Marie8425 I can understand some of your worries Marie. If you are a homeshare host maybe it would be better to only have women guests for future bookings. It is not unusual certainly where I live in a regional city for workers to be moving around for a month at a time. Is it possible that the boss booked your place for a third party worker. It sounds like this may have been the case.In which case the booker and bookee would be different people. Most people do know that Airbnb do not accept third party bookings but still try and do them as this is how the stays are paid for.Airbnb did have a worker program at one stage but I am not sure how this works now . All the best.. H

[Marie8425]

**  So being sexist doesn't insure my safety.  I was thinking today also He performed knowingly a criminal act.  Not  expressing a problem or even a casual mention that he wanted to come to my private residence so a adult male I would expect to know that is trespassing.  He used info provided by Airbnb illegally Airbnb did not give him my info so he could commit a crime.

I followed Airbnb and my state laws, he knowingly violated both.  Everyone is focused on insuring he can perform criminal acts on Airbnb privately.  If I choose to be honest and legal hen maybe if I restrict my legal and honest use I will stop bothering the criminal usage.

The only concern seems to be my making it uncomfortable for criminals to use my legal safe rental.  Nobody but me seems to be asking is there any protection if your not a criminal?  Maybe there isn't.  I understand a business like Airbnb can not just give me information, I didn't ask to be provided private detail.  I did ask did they investigate?  Did they ask who ever they validated was he trespassing on my private residence?  Maybe it was a stupid but innocent idea maybe it wasn't.  Maybe he does it every month and someone is seriously hurt or killed sooner or later.  If a user shows obvious red flags is anything done?  Does anyone even look? A good standing 5 year account suddenly closing if the actions were innocent when I didn't send any message it appears that Airbnb didn't send a message doesn't appear to be an action a person would take if they are legit

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[Marie8425]

This time Airbnb Support contact me she is going to review issue.  At my age, I should know better, but I don't suspect everyone is lying.

I respond great.  Though I have reported the situation multiple times.  I pleasantly provide the details again.  On April 13th I sent Airbnb Support requesting a cancellation of an approved reservation for 30 days 4/17.  I didn't tell the guest my particulars just he was changing his reservation and I was uncomfortable.  His request was that I change his 30 day confirmed reservation to just 10 days, within the same date range.

The red flag my 30 day price has a discount my 10 day price doesn't  I know guest was awar we discussed before I accept 3 day booking.  I had suggested he book 1 days and since he said potential 90 day contract if we were both comfortable then I would do special pricing on the remaining dates.  He wanted the discount so I approved a 30 day stay.  3 days before arrival 90 days changes to 10 days.  So the request was I am canceling the 30 day reservation to rebook only 10 of the original 30 days, with an increase in cost to me, the guest of $200.

 Nobody wants to pay me more to provide less.  I didn't tell him my  opinion, I did tell Airbnb Support sounded like he was using a stolen credit caed I authorized 100% refund though my rules for a 30 day booking were Strict No Refund.   told them I thought stolen money and I didn't want to take stolen money.  Reservation was cancelled refund was issued to customer no investigation.  Not my business anymore not my money

I didn't keep any money I didn't tell the guest my opinion.  No argument with me.  All done.

April 17th nobody expected because guest cancelled,  Just me and  my aide doing busy work.

My aide responds to my doorbell.  I have cameras and microphones since I am disabled., so I am monitoring.  My aide politely says may I help you?  The man, who I have never seen before, loudly and amicably declares himself as Brian Joy demanding to speak to Marie Ishol concerning cancellation o reservation and volunteering Airbnb gave him my private information of name and home address.  Yes, Brian Joy was the name he gave me when I approved the reservation or who ever was emailing me, there was nothing to discuss I never even hinted to him I suspected scam and refund was 100%, the man on my porch was not the man's profile picture submitted not even a distant relative.  I instructed my aide lock the door and call 911.

Since 4/17 this was my 5th communication with Airbnb Support concerning what happened.  Again I did not request any info from Airbnb, again I submitted to Airbnb my very clear picture of an unknown man on my porch.  Again I mention the 5 year account in good standing suddenly closing the day I called police.

She will review  I wait 24 hours can I get an estimated timeline of review?

A bot answers me, sorry it is my weekend I will respond to your question in 2 days

[Marie8425]

So Airbnb posted privacy protection.  I did nothing wrong.  Airbnb gave a criminal private information I gave Airbnb.  The recipient was a criminal and I submitted not my word but video of the criminal and my recording of him stating Airbnb gave him my private information not me  I didn't even have to ask he volunteered.  This happened 4/17/2023.  I called the police and hopefully all will be well  I am disappointed that I have submitted 5 written reports to Airbnb and the response is your fine or a bot telling me it is the weekend wait 48 hours. If as a host I have safety concerns, then are my guests experiencing this?

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[Marie8425]

To protect myself and hopefully make my guests feel safer.  My thinking is I had an unexpected unsafe situation I didn't cause I don't say anything negative just an added plus I will show my ID too

Host is also on-site. I do ask for IDs to insure safety for everyone in the house So we are both safe, Marie ** is my legal name and I am legal owner to insure we are all safe I will allow a visual review of my legal ID I will not ask to copy your ID

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