From credit card scams to phishing, the digital age has contributed to the rise of many different fraud threats, and Airbnb shares tips for safe booking.
Vindication may be a little late but it’s here for baby boomers (those born between 1946 – 1964). Recent research has shown that consumers have a hard time telling the difference between a fake vacation or accommodation website. And despite the common belief that the victims of fraud are mainly people of the baby boomer generation (1946-1964), in reality younger generations are more often victims of fraud.
So while the younger generations have grown up in the digital age, research conducted on behalf of Airbnb shows that they are less cautious about online security. Younger people admit that they are willing to take a risk when booking a holiday if they see that they will save money, even if they have limited information. According to the research, people in this age group are willing to communicate outside of trusted booking platforms, increasing the risk of falling victim to fraud.
What are the scams?
One of the most common scams in the industry is aimed at travelers looking for deals on their summer holidays. The scam itself is basic, but the lengths the scammers go to is getting more sophisticated. Fraudsters may try to trick the booker into thinking they are booking with a legitimate company, but are in fact using fake websites, messages, emails, and even on social media.
With this in mind, Airbnb informs the public about potential scams and helps consumers protect themselves when pre-booking their vacations.
Airbnb protects travelers
In order to help the community stay safe online, Airbnb has implemented safeguards to help protect bookings, including secure payment processes. In addition, it asks users to report suspicious websites or emails to it for further investigation. Over 12 months, the Airbnb team identified and limited nearly 2,500 phishing domains worldwide, protecting consumers from scams.
Valentina Reino, Airbnb’s Head of Public Policy for Greece, said: “As travelers book their summer holidays, we want to help them learn what to watch out for and what to avoid. When it comes to bookings on Airbnb, we encourage our guests to only communicate, book and pay through our platform, where we have secure processes and support like Aircover to help protect against fraud and ensure there are no problems.”
Airbnb’s 7 safety tips
1.Check the URL of the website you are visiting.
Whether you’re using a laptop or smartphone, use the Airbnb app or go directly to the website (www.airbnb.com) to make sure you’re on the company’s official website.
2.Don’t click on suspicious links.
Fake links and attachments in emails are designed to lead you to websites that look like real company websites, but can trick users into revealing personal information such as passwords and credit card numbers. If you are not sure that a message or post is from a legitimate company, ignore it and do not click on any link it contains. Airbnb provides detailed instructions on how to identify an authentic Airbnb contact or email.
3.Be wary of unusually cheap offers or high down payments.
If an offer seems too good to be true, such as those advertised on social media, it may be a scam and it’s a good idea to stop all communication immediately. Searching for accommodation on unreliable websites can increase your risk of falling victim to fraud. Take time to read the details carefully and compare the offer with other options, especially if you feel pressured to pay.
4.Do not pay for holidays or accommodation by direct bank transfer.
Paying by credit card usually offers better protection and a better chance of getting your money back if something goes wrong.
5.Make reservations, payments and communication exclusively through Airbnb.
Accommodation must always be booked and paid for only through the platform to take advantage of Airbnb’s secure procedures and refund policies. Every booking includes AirCover, which means that if there’s a serious problem with your Airbnb stay that the host can’t resolve, we’ll help you find similar accommodation or refund your money. If someone asks you to book outside the platform, you must report it to Airbnb.
6.Check the reviews of the accommodation.
Make a more informed decision about the host or accommodation before you book by checking the ratings and reviews from guests and reading the property description carefully. You can also ask the host any questions via in-platform messaging before booking.
7.Report any concerns immediately.
If you think you have been a victim of fraud, you should contact your bank or financial institution immediately. On Airbnb, users can report suspicious messages directly within a conversation, and listings can be reported via the “report this listing” option found in each listing’s profile. If you have paid for a booking outside the platform, contact our 24/7 community support team.
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