Possible scam via Whatsapp ?

[Ruud36]

Hi! 

I just started as a host, my first guest is checking out tomorrow, and the next one checking in the same day. I just got a whatsapp message from the 2nd guest, about the check in and if we can have a call.

The name and phone number do not match with the person making the booking (different country as well). But the message was about checking in tomorrow and knew the address.

Is it common that guests contact over whatsapp? Is this a regular scam?

Thanks!

[Joelle43]

Hello @Ruud36 

I would say yes, that some guests prefer using WhatsApp especially if it's to check details with you and get a quick answer.  

However, you tell us that the name is not the same as the person who booked so you need to find out asap if that person is staying at your place or if this is a third party booking!  How many people are due to arrive tomorrow?  Could just be a case of one of the party members having downloaded WhatsApp and that the person who booked hasn't ☝️

So when you call them, anything that they say that is a red flag, make sure you then put it in writing in the Airbnb message part so that you are covered and customer service can read this.

Good luck!

Joëlle

[Ruud36]

Thanks for your quick reply @Joelle43 !

I've sent the person making the booking a message via Airbnb, to confirm. But no reply yet. I think I'll call the person making the booking to check.

I hadn't thought about the third party or different party members, but there is 1 person supposed to arrive tomorrow. And I'm just a bit worried that the country is different. The person making the booking is from the Netherlands, and the whatsapp message came from a Thailand phone number.

Thanks,

Ruud

[Helen3]

You have done the right thing in contacting the guest who booked via the platform @Ruud36 

It does sound odd.

did you agree a check in time with the second guest. Ask them to confirm this if not and that only one person will be staying. 

be careful the person booking hasn't made a third party booking which is against Airbnb's T&Cs. 

[Bob297]

@Ruud36 
Hello compatriot 🙂 There is also a Dutch section of the community.

Ik heb bij voorkeur contact via whatsapp over praktische en toeristische dingen.

Hoeft geen scam te zijn.

Het kan zijn dat degene die de whatsapp stuurt van een nummer uit Thailand, daar met vakantie is en nu terugvliegt.

Als ik in het buitenland ben koop ik ook altijd een lokale simkaart

Het advies dat anderen geven is prima:

• Ga na of degene die geboekt heeft ook werkelijk komt (anders kan ingewikkeld worden bij Airbnb als er problemen ontstaan
• Ga ook na met hoeveel personen ze komen.

Ik moet zeggen dat ik regelmatig reserveringen ontvang via personen waarbij de werkelijke gast iemand anders was.

Dat heeft bij mij de afgelopen jaren niet tot problemen geleid.

Dat zal ook afhangen waar je zelf woont en of je goed toezicht kunt houden

I prefer to communicate via WhatsApp for practical and tourist-related matters. It doesn't have to be a scam. It's possible that the person sending the WhatsApp message is using a number from Thailand because they are on vacation there and are now returning.

When I am abroad, I always purchase a local SIM card. The advice given by others is good:

• Verify whether the person who made the booking is actually coming (otherwise, it could be complicated with Airbnb if issues arise).
• Also, confirm the number of people they are bringing.

I must say that I often receive reservations from people where the actual guest is someone else. This has not caused any problems for me in recent years. The outcome may also depend on where you live and whether you can keep good supervision.

[Ruud36]

@Bob297 

@Helen3

Thanks for the replies!

I'm just starting as a host, and I thought all communication was supposed to go via Airbnb.

And I also wasn't expecting a booking for someone else. I messaged the person doing the booking, turned out that she does the bookings for her company when they have people over. She gave my number to the actual person staying at the place, a woman from Thailand.

All fine in the end! But since there are so many scams around these days, I just wasn't sure.

Thanks again and happy new year to you!

[Helen3]

it's against Airbnb's terms to accept third party bookings. If it is a company booking she should have used Airbnb at Work. @Ruud36 

the fact she lied to you on booking and didn't mention it was for someone else doesn't bode well.

if you go ahead with the booking you won't be covered by Airbnb for example if there is damage to the property .

you are right all communications should go through the platform.

[Rebecca]

Hey @Ruud36, Happy New Year! 🎊

You've got some great advice here but just to support you further here's an article about 3rd party bookings - Booking for friends and family -  in short they're not allowed and if it's a business they should use Airbnb for Work. 

All communications should be kept on the Airbnb platform too - that will support the Hosts and the guests if there are any issues. 

Hope this helps!