Beware of This Airbnb Scam
Just last month, we wrote about a couple who were tricked into going to Airbnb for almost $ 12,000 due to a fake listing. But according to a report by senior staff writer Ellie Conti for Vice, who has been the victim of Airbnb scams in several major cities, scammers on the platform are getting a lot smarter.
“The call came in about 10 minutes before we were supposed to check out Airbnb,” Conti says of his experience. “I was sitting at a brewery just around the corner from the North Wood Street rental in Chicago when the person on the other end of the line said our planned visit was not possible. He explained that the previous guest had flushed something down the toilet, as a result of which the block was flooded with water. He apologized and promised to let us stay in the other property he was managing until he called a plumber. ”
As you probably guessed, despite the fact that she was promised a larger apartment and received a written agreement from the landlord, this other property turned out to be significantly worse than she expected. “Although it was quite large on three levels, almost everything else felt wrong … Everything was muddy and a hole was punched in the wall.” In the end, she booked a hotel and Airbnb only gave her a partial refund (just $ 399 out of nearly $ 1,200).
In her report, Conti also spoke to several other guests who had faced similar incidents, eventually piecing together the details to uncover a scam in which rental companies impersonate “regular” homeowners; using this false data, they create fake listings and profit when guests change their bookings at the last minute. If they are indeed reported, there is no reason they can’t start over, given that Airbnb doesn’t seem to be verifying profiles thoroughly enough.
If you’re more concerned about using Airbnb now than ever, there are several important lessons to be learned from this story. (Plus, there’s no reason yet to ditch Airbnb altogether.) First, it’s important to contact Airbnb to let them know about the circumstances should the host suddenly change their mind – this is probably not the advice you want after arrival. from a long flight, but this is for your protection.
If the host ever asks you to change your booking to another one on their lists, especially at the last minute, know you don’t have to go through with it. “If you are not satisfied with the transition to a new service or your employer asks you to switch without an official change of reservation on Airbnb, ask the owner to cancel your booking, so you can get a full refund, or find another home that is best suited for your stay, – stated in the Airbnb website .
If they do not unsubscribe, please contact Airbnb directly again. If you cancel without informing them, you may be hooked due to some kind of cancellation fee. As Vice points out, and as we mentioned earlier, it is also difficult to claim reimbursement for your stay after 24 hours.
In Conti’s experience, you should always get everything in writing and keep the conversation going about your time on Airbnb’s direct messaging platform. When resolving disputes, Airbnb will rely on your message history to build your case.
And while “verified” profiles may be a sign that you’re working with a reputable host, it looks like, as the Vice story shows, Airbnb isn’t as strict about its actual verification standards. Therefore, reading reviews is critical and arguably more important than a verified profile. And be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to read the old real estate reviews; Conti mentions that she found a name that did not match the latest reviews, which confirmed her suspicions of a fake profile.
If you’re looking for more tips on how to avoid fake ads, check out our guide . And if you want to laugh or laugh at the horror stuff , visit Airbnbhell.com .