Suspicious Booking Requests: Looking for opinions and what you have done re: similar booking requests

[Oscar196]

Hi Community.

This is my first ever post.

I have a one-bedroom in Park Slope that I list for 30+ day stays.
airbnb.com/h/parkslope1oasis

This year so far, I have received two suspicious requests that I decided to decline. The first request had clearer red flags, but the second one was borderline. I'm curious to know what you would have done or have done in the past with similar requests.

Here is the first Booking request. Names will be commented out:

"Hi Oscar!

I'm a student at Yale Law School and am back in Brooklyn this summer working at the New York AG's office. I used to live nearby in Windsor Terrace and love the area. I'm looking for a 6-7 week sublet, preferably in my old neighborhood, and your apartment looks beautiful. Would you be open to $5000 for this period, especially if we do this offline so the full amount would go to you? I'd love to FaceTime or swing by if you'd be open to this!

Thanks for "

That's the entire first message, even cut off at the very end. I declined and flagged/reported this one.

Here is the second booking request I declined. Please note, this second booker had not had an airbnb stay for 10 years and only had 1 review, with nothing more than "Great guest!"

"Hi Oscar!

My wife and I are staying in an Airbnb in Gowanus while we are doing renovations on our Carrol Gardens condo. Another guest arrives on the 14th so we need to find another place and yours looks great. My wife is a (5 month pregnant) pediatric doctor at Columbia and I am a Brooklyn public school art teacher.

Would it be possible to see your space in person before booking?

Thanks-

Name and Name"

I replied and did not hear back from this booking.
Here is my reply:

"Hi Name Here,

For everyone’s safety and insurance, I can’t show the space first. Airbnb requires all communication to be through the platform.

Also, I generally take guests with lots of good reviews, and I see you have only 1 review a very long time ago.

Regards,

Oscar"

Thoughts and comments welcomed.
Best,
Oscar

[Helen3]

I would have reported both guests to Airbnb @Oscar196 as both are trying to go outside of Airbnb to make a booking by trying to get in contact with you directly .

[Oscar196]

Thanks for your take Helen.

[Joelle43]

Hello @Oscar196 

I think you did a great job of handling these two situations and it's good that you trusted your instincts.  I would have acted in the same way and there have been lots of posts here of so called guests wanting to visit the place beforehand or asking for a video - all scammers and to be flagged to Airbnb!

[Oscar196]

Thanks, Joelle!

I was a bit tempted to continue a conversation with the second request, since it seemed more legitimate, but in the end decided not to.

I have had a previous booker send me a similar request, but they followed up with numerous general questions and concerns about the listing, and we started a dialogue on the platform. In the end, I allowed that booker to book, which resulted in a successful booking. There were no issues with that one. It's when they don't follow up or attempt to provide any background info beyond just the first request that I start to raise flags.