Text asked to verify my card

[Louise1573]

I received a text with a link asking me to verify my booking with my bank card, which took me to pointstayhotel.com with Oyo branding - is this a scam? I have sent the rental group a message via airbnb but haven't heard back yet. The text had the name of the property and correct dates, but said my booking might be cancelled if I didn't confirm

[Joelle43]

Hello @Louise1573 

This is definitely not the way Airbnb proceed as all payments should go through the platform.  How did this off line platform have your details?  

As a host, we only have a guest's phone details once they have booked?  Did you pay once already on Airbnb and then received this second link?  I have read that there are people being scammed into paying twice but Booking.com was mentioned in the article I read but that doesn't mean that Airbnb isn't targeted as well.

Do not click on this external link and call Airbnb customer service asap Louise.  Please keep us updated though!

Joëlle

[Louise1573]

Yes, I paid already. It had the name and dates correct, and it was Oyo-branded. I believe the hosts are not individuals but rather a company. So it's just possible it was legit. But as you say, why not directed through the airbnb site? All very weird

[Louise1573]

Airbnb tell me it was almost certainly a scam attempt

[Joelle43]

Hello @Louise1573 

Thank you so much for confirming this scam attempt and if you make a search on internet you'll find information on these hacking attempts made recently on Booking, Expedia and more recently Airbnb😱

You messaged the host via the Airbnb message stream (good call) so the host should be replying shortly.  Any doubt contact SC again.

All the best
Joëlle

[Patricia2526]

Hi @Louise1573 

Airbnb will never text you a link asking you to verify your booking or enter your card details on an external website.

Do not click the link again and do not submit any bank details.

Report the message inside Airbnb:

Go to Your Trips → Reservation → Report suspicious message.

Wait for the host to reply inside Airbnb  and  never respond via SMS links.

If your reservation is active inside your Airbnb app and payment is already processed, your booking is safe. Scammers cannot cancel anything on Airbnb.

[Louise1573]

Reported to Airbnb and the host. The fact that they had my name, my holiday dates and villa location suggests to me that they must have hacked into the site, worryingly