Watch out for this sneaky Airbnb scam

Last month, we shared a story about a couple who lost almost $12,000 on Airbnb due to a fake listing. Recently, a report by Allie Conti, a senior writer at Vice, revealed that these scams are getting much trickier. Allie herself was tricked by a scam that is common in big cities.

Allie’s own bad experience started just 10 minutes before she was supposed to check into her Airbnb. She was waiting at a nearby brewery in Chicago when she got a call.

The man on the phone told her she couldn’t stay at her booked place because a previous guest had clogged the toilet and flooded the apartment. He felt sorry and offered her a different, bigger place he also managed, until the issue was fixed.

Allie agreed to move to the new place, which the host said was larger. However, it was in bad shape. The apartment was big but dirty, and it even had a hole in one of the walls. Disappointed, Allie ended up booking a hotel instead. Airbnb only gave her back $399 of the nearly $1,200 she paid.

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In her report, Allie talked to other guests who had similar problems. She found out that some rental companies pretend to be regular homeowners. They put up fake listings and make money when guests have to switch places at the last minute.

Even if these scammers are reported, they often just create a new fake profile and start again, especially since Airbnb doesn’t always check profiles thoroughly.

Here’s how to combat this scam

If you’re worried about using Airbnb, here are some tips to keep in mind. First, if an Airbnb host wants to change your reservation at the last minute, you don’t have to agree.

If you’re not comfortable with switching, or if the host hasn’t officially changed the reservation on Airbnb, ask them to cancel it. This way, you can get a full refund or find a better place to stay.

If the host won’t cancel the reservation, you should contact Airbnb right away. If you cancel on your own, you might have to pay a cancellation fee. Remember, getting a refund after the first 24 hours can be tough.

Always keep a written record of any agreements and keep all your messages with the host on Airbnb’s messaging system. Airbnb will use these messages if there’s a dispute.

Even though a host has a “verified” profile, it doesn’t always mean they are trustworthy. Reading reviews is very important. Make sure to read older reviews at the bottom of the listing, too. These can give you clues about whether the profile might be fake.

For more advice on avoiding scams and for some stories about Airbnb experiences, check out our guide and visit Airbnbhell.com.