I Got This Message From Potential Booking Inquiry Potential Scam?

[Walter587]

The message content is in quotes.

"My fiancé is here for business. We love your place and will soon be joining him with our daughter and family, but we have a few questions."

:Is there laundry in the home? On the pictures, I can't see it."

"Are roads OK to travel in night?"

"Please provide me your phone number in the following format: $$404$$865$$1471, and I'll call you to talk."

I suspect this is a scam, but I am not sure.  Asking for a phone number in an unusual format is weird.  Can anyone comment?

**[Phone number hidden due to safety reasons - Community Center Guidelines]

[J--Brooke0]

I just received the same inquiry requesting a call with that phone number. Sounds like a scam. They provide no information about the purpose of their visit and the size of the party which is requested on the listing. I requested this and got more questions. I am reporting the user after reading all of these comments from last year. Thank you all. 

[Lynda32]

I got mine today on VRBO. I have gotten many of these before on both platforms, but mostly on VRBO. This is the 1st time I have Googled the phone number and I'm really glad to see people are reporting them like this. I usually politely tell them I am unable to call until there is a booking. I will do the same this time but then will go ahead and report it afterwards.   

Thank you so much for doing this everyone!! 

[Sameer68]

I just received this message with same number to call back. I was not comfortable with that. I answered back with VRBO platform with some questions to clarify before confirm booking. They never respond back. Thanks walter for sharing this.

[Sharon683]

Just report it to Airbnb as a scam message. I get weird massages periodically. 

[Anthony2233]

I got the same last night on VBRO (Scam Alert)

[Jess167]

SCAM: I received this message as well twice - each time with a different phone number. The request was for a date 15 months in future, which was odd. I received the first message at 9:30 pm Pacific time, which according to the area code would make it after midnight their time. I explained I only communicate through the app. Although, I did try once to call back and received no answer and no reply. 5 days later I got a similar message with a different phone number and area code, same name.  This was the second message: 

" I think your home looks excellent, barring the service fees. However, I wanted to talk to you first about the service fees (which are absurdly costly). Calling the host provides a personal touch, in my opinion, and most visitors value speaking with the owner. A VRBO booking will be made by me.

Sending me your numbr should be done as follows

$$404$$

$$865$$

$$1471$$

is my numbr)

If you don't want to give me your numbr, call if I don't answer, leave a message; and I'll call you back." 

[Jess167]

Marked this as SPAM on VRBO: 

I have some inquiries and am thinking of coming here for vacation. Is it possible for us to discuss them? Please connect me on this numbr.-($seven-&two*$four($6-$three^five-five$five_#seven-$six$)

[Sophia]

Hi @Jess167, just wanted to drop in to say that if the same happens on Airbnb, you can report it. You can click on the 3 dots in the message thread and report the message (see message) 



Thank you for sharing this with the community to make others aware 🙏🏽