There is very little left for the summer season to begin, when a good number of citizens look for internet accommodations to stay during these rest days. During the first quarter of this 2022, the rental of accommodation spaces has increased considerably compared to previous years, even exceeding the levels of 2019. For this reason, given the foreseeable increase in requests, the National Police, Airbnb Y Online Trust have alerted to possible scams and advise how to avoid them.
Some of the signs and tips to avoid scams when booking summer vacations are:
Beware of messages with suspicious links. Don’t click on the links included in emails that do not inspire confidence. They may contain links to fake web pages that mimic Airbnb’s design in an attempt to steal personal information or infect devices. In this situation, return to the home page by typing https://www.airbnb.es in your browser and continue browsing from there.
Be wary of offers that are too advantageous. If an owner wants to do too many changes during the reservation process (offers you to pay differently, sends you contact addresses that do not match the ad, offers you a different ad that was not on the page, etc.) there could be a criminal behind you who wants to avoid your location. To avoid this, look for ads that have many positive reviews and please read them carefully.
Communication and payment, always in the platform. If they ask you to make a deposit or a bank transfer, if they give you a PDF or paper invoice or offer you a discount for paying outside the platform, be wary. Pay special attention if that person proposes to use for payment companies that are normally dedicated to sending money, bank checks, money orders. If they suggest payment methods outside the platform, it is most likely that they intend to carry out some type of fraud. Therefore, you must always make payments and communicate through the Airbnb website or app.
You suspect an urgent tone or the inconsistencies on the part of the host. Scammers often try to rush or pressure guests to book, show inconsistencies in the language in which they express themselves and in their nationalities, areas of residence or telephone prefixes, as well as in the text of the accommodation advertisement. Do not feel pressured, before deciding on an accommodation, read the host’s profile carefully.