New host: guest is asking for my photo in the room I rent for certification.

[Leila427]

Hello

Since I am new host with no review one guest is asking for my photo in the room I rent for certification.

what do you think?!🤔 

[Maggie-and-Norm0]

May not be a good idea @Leila427

[Leila427]

Why?

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Leila427 I can't see anything wrong/dangerous about this request. I don't know how you could share the image but you could add it temporarily to the listing.

[Helen3]

You can't share photos with guests before they book so this wouldn't be possible @Leila427 . Just tell the guest to protect the safety of guests and hosts you are not allowed to exchange information including photos before a booking is made.

How many reviews does this guest have by the way?

It is an unusual request that I have never come across.

[Leila427]

She has none reviews.

I was thinking to change my profile picture or add a temporary photo in room category 

[Helen3]

If she doesn't have any reviews I certainly wouldn't be offering the guest this.  @Leila427  Just explain to her, just as she is, you are verified through Airbnb.

The idea of changing your profile pic to show you in the room is a good one if you want to do this.

[Bob297]

@Leila427 
I experienced this once with an ad. They also wanted me to send a photo via a link for identification. This was because they had had bad experiences before
That turned out to be an attempt at fraud.

[Leila427]

Did you share a photo?

I was thinking of adding a temporary photo in my album or change my profile picture to the one she wants  to see. 

[Bob297]

@Leila427 
No, I woke up just in time 🙂

Guests can see my photo via my profile

[Tara0]

Asking you to send the photo via a link is a big red flag. 

[Tara0]

@Leila427 So, you're both newbies with zero reviews. It seems fairly reasonable, for a solo female guest to be a bit anxious in the circumstances. (There are thousands of bad reviews on Trustpilot about Airbnb). She'll want to be sure you're genuinely a female host, for a start. So, I don't see any harm in temporarily adding a photo to your listing of you in the room. 

Equally, you might be a bit anxious that the female guest is who she says she is, so I would sound her out to find out why she's visiting, ask if she's fine with the house rules, - whatever - create a dialogue whereby you'll both get a sense of each other. 

[Leila427]

Thank you I did that 

and actually the booking is confirmed 

it turned out it is a boy and they are 2 guests. 

[Leila427]

So he came with a friend who joined him much later. 
he was a bit nervous and strange. It seems they wanted to just meet there. Anyway everything went well! 
I can’t really complain! 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Leila427 Excellent to hear all was well and it just shows that not all 'strange' requests are scams.