Welcome to the world of Airbnb, where travelers find one-of-a-kind accommodations and property owners seize lucrative investment opportunities.
As a host, you’re looking to offer your guests the best experience while protecting your interests. But, as with any online platform, Airbnb is not immune to scams orchestrated by guests.
In this comprehensive guide, we will equip you with the knowledge and tools to confidently identify and prevent Airbnb scams, so you can focus on providing your guests with an exceptional experience.
Common Airbnb Scams:
As an Airbnb host, you must be aware of the common Airbnb scams used by fraudulent guests to exploit hosts.
Following are some of the most common scams we have researched and compiled to ensure you remain vigilant and informed:
Unauthorized Additional Guests:
In this scam, potential guests book a property for a certain number of occupants but secretly bring additional people to the accommodation without the host’s knowledge or consent. This can result in overcrowding, excessive wear and tear, and potential violation of local regulations.
Communication Outside the Platform:
In this scam, guests attempt to contact hosts privately through WhatsApp, text messaging, or other means of communication outside of Airbnb. By doing so, they aim to circumvent the platform’s policies, negotiate special deals, or carry out fraudulent activities without leaving a trace on Airbnb.
Even worse, the guest will send an inquiry about specific dates but requests payment outside of the Airbnb platform, often citing technical issues or the urgency to secure the property. Accepting payment outside of Airbnb leaves you without protection or recourse if things go awry.
The ‘Overpayment’ Scam:
The guest intentionally overpays for their booking and requests a refund, asking the host to wire the difference to a third party, typically via Venmo or PayPal. However, the guest’s payment method is likely fraudulent, and the host is left empty-handed when the refund never materializes.
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The ‘Fake Profile’ or ‘Fake Guest’ Scam
This scam involves guests creating fake profiles or using stolen identities to book properties. These profiles often lack reviews, photos, and complete bios and harbor malicious intentions. The guest may use the property for parties, cause damage, or refuse to leave, attempting to extort the host for refunds or compensation.
The ‘Last Minute Cancellation’ Scam
Fraudulent guests book a property and cancel at the last minute, usually with an excuse such as a health emergency. They may repeat this tactic, hoping to wear down the host and receive an unjustified refund.
Credit Card Chargeback Scam
This scam involves guests disputing a charge on their credit card after their stay, falsely claiming they never authorized the transaction. This can result in a reversal of the payment, leaving the host without compensation for the booking.
Refusing to Pay for Damages
In this scenario, the scammers will cause damage to the property but refuse to accept responsibility or pay for the necessary repairs. They may deny causing the damage or claim it was pre-existing, leaving hosts to bear the financial burden of the repairs.
Long-Term Rental Scams:
Airbnb offers an option for guests to rent properties for extended periods. While this can lead to stable income for hosts, it can also be a breeding ground for scams. Guests may book a long-term stay but refuse to leave at the end, effectively squatting in your property. This can lead to costly and time-consuming eviction processes.
The Identity Theft Trick:
In this scam, the guest uses stolen personal information to create an Airbnb account. Once they’ve booked your property, they may use it for illegal activities, leaving you, the host, to deal with any ensuing complications.
Exploiting Situations
Unscrupulous guests may use natural disasters to manipulate hosts into allowing parties or large gatherings. They may claim they are organizing a gathering for displaced individuals or a fundraiser for disaster relief, only for the host to discover later the event was a party causing damage to the property.
The ‘Fake Airbnb Inquiry’
This scam involves an inquiry from a supposed guest who sends a seemingly genuine message asking about your property. The trick is in the inclusion of a malicious link, often presented as leading to their profile or additional photos. Clicking the link may lead to malware installation or phishing attempts to steal your Airbnb login credentials.
The ‘Threat of a Bad Review’ Scam
In this scam, guests threaten to tarnish your reputation with a negative review unless you offer an undeserved refund. Such manipulation is against Airbnb’s policies and it’s designed to exploit a host’s fear of bad ratings.
Stand your ground and don’t succumb to guest’s threats and provide unjustified refunds. Inform Airbnb about the threat. They have mechanisms in place to deal with such situations and can remove negative reviews proven to be extorted.
First-time buyers scam:
There were reports of some Airbnb guests posing as real estate agents and listing the rented properties at steep discounts for first-time homebuyers. These fraudsters briefly occupy the Airbnb homes, stage fake viewings with potential buyers, and then disappear. Hosts are becoming increasingly aware of this scheme after discovering their homes are listed for sale on websites like “For Sale By Owner” at prices far below their actual value. Law enforcement and Airbnb are both investigating the issue, which appears to be affecting multiple hosts.
Mortgage fraud through Airbnb rentals:
Using short-term rental platforms, the scammers rent homes and then steal the homeowners’ identity information. With the acquired data, they successfully secure mortgages worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from private lenders, costing insurers millions in fraudulent claims. A man was recently arrested in connection with these scams, charged with multiple counts of fraud and laundering proceeds of crime. Investigators warn that this scheme is a quicker and more cost-effective method for fraudsters to gain physical access to homes and identity documents. The hosts must lock away all personal documents and cease mail delivery during rental periods.
How to spot Airbnb scams by guests?
By paying attention to red flags, you can identify potential Airbnb or Vrbo scams more easily. Keep an eye out for these warning signs when interacting with prospective guests:
Poor communication:
Be cautious if a person communicates in broken language, evades your questions, or makes unreasonable demands.
Unverified profile:
A guest with an incomplete profile, no reviews, or fabricated details should raise concerns.
Incomplete payment:
If a guest’s payment doesn’t process or they request an unusual method, it’s a sign that something is amiss.
Unusual requests:
Guests asking for your email, phone number, or social media accounts may be attempting to contact you outside of Airbnb, which is against the platform’s policy.
Suspicious activities:
Be wary of guests who refuse to follow house rules, bring additional guests to vacation rental, or make unreasonable refund requests.
Proactive Measures by Airbnb host to Ward Off Scammers:
Implement these robust measures to safeguard your property and business from fraudulent guests:
Use a Guest Screening Solution
Invest in a guest screening solution like Autohost, which automates the vetting process by analyzing and verifying guest information, assessing potential risks, and flagging suspicious bookings. This allows you to focus on legitimate guests while maintaining the security and integrity of your property.
Guests with complete profiles only
Ensure guests have completed their profile information, including name, photo, phone number, email address, and a verifiable government ID. This allows you to verify their identity before accepting a reservation request.
Check all payment methods
Confirm the guest’s payment is fully processed and verified through the Airbnb platform before accepting their booking. Never accept payment outside the platform, as it exposes you to risks and leaves you without recourse in case of issues.
Get in touch with your guests
Establish a rapport with your guests through the Airbnb messaging system, clarifying doubts and ensuring all necessary details are discussed in advance. Stick to the platform for communication to minimize security risks.
Find out what other hosts have to say
Read all the reviews from previous hosts to gauge the guest’s reliability, respectfulness, and reasonableness. Be cautious with guests who have no review history or numerous negative reviews.
Refunding overpayments with extra caution
If a guest claims to have overpaid and requests a refund, take your time to investigate the situation before issuing a full refund. Verify the legitimacy of the overpayment and follow Airbnb’s guidelines on refunds.
Implement Strict Cancellation Policies
Establish a strict cancellation policy to deter guests who may attempt to exploit last-minute cancellations for refunds. By setting clear expectations, you can minimize the chances of encountering the ‘Last Minute Cancellation’ scam.
Familiarize Yourself with Airbnb Policies
Stay informed about Airbnb’s policies, terms of service, and best practices for hosting. Understanding the platform’s rules and regulations ensures that you operate within the guidelines and can seek support if needed.
Document Everything
Maintain thorough documentation of all communication, transactions, and agreements with your guests. This record will prove invaluable in resolving disputes or defending your case in the event of a scam.
Trust Your Instincts
Trust your instincts if something feels off about a guest or their booking request. It’s better to be cautious and decline a reservation than to fall victim to a scam.
Airbnb suspicious guests:
In the course of your Airbnb hosting experience, you may occasionally encounter guests who raise suspicions due to their behavior, communication, or other irregularities. While it’s important to maintain an open-minded approach, it’s equally crucial to address these concerns for your property’s safety and your peace of mind.
Sometimes, even if a guest’s profile seems fine, you might feel uneasy due to their communications or unusual requests. Trust your instincts. As a host, you have the right to refuse a reservation if you feel uncomfortable, even if you can’t pin down the exact reason.
Always keep your communication within the Airbnb platform. This ensures there’s a record of all interactions, which can be critical in disputes or if you need to report an issue to Airbnb.
If you have a confirmed reservation and become suspicious of a guest’s behavior, don’t hesitate to report your concerns to Airbnb. Their support team can guide you through the process, investigate the issue, and help protect your interests.
Blacklisting and Blocking Scammers on Airbnb
If you’ve encountered a troublesome guest or suspect someone to be a scammer, Airbnb allows you to blacklist or block these individuals from making future bookings at your property.
How to Blacklist or Block Scammers:
Open the conversation with the suspicious user on the Airbnb platform.
Click on the ‘report’ button, which allows you to report inappropriate messages or suspicious behavior.
Choose the reason for reporting from the dropdown menu, providing any additional details in the provided space.
This step is crucial, as it allows Airbnb to properly investigate the matter.
Once you’ve reported the user, you can proceed to block them. Simply click on their profile and select the ‘block’ option. This will prevent the user from making any future bookings or contacting you through the platform.
You’re not only protecting your property, but you’re also enhancing the security of the Airbnb community as a whole. Airbnb will review your report and take necessary actions against the reported user, which may include account suspension or removal.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively minimize your exposure to Airbnb scams and focus on providing exceptional experiences for your guests. With a proactive approach, due diligence, and a confident understanding of potential risks, you can protect your property and investment while enjoying the benefits of Airbnb hosting.
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