If you find yourself using AirBNB, here's what I would suggest, based on the past ~5 years of scammer stories:
1. Plug the address into Google Maps first.
2. Compare Street View pictures of the property to the interior photos.
3. Verify the hosts exist.
1. Plug the address into Google Maps first.
2. Compare Street View pictures of the property to the interior photos.
3. Verify the hosts exist.
If you can't find the address on Google Maps, red flag.
If the details of the interior don't match the exterior (e.g., window size/placement/style), red flag.
If the hosts have no discernible existence outside the listing, red flag.
If the details of the interior don't match the exterior (e.g., window size/placement/style), red flag.
If the hosts have no discernible existence outside the listing, red flag.
These things not coming up doesn't mean it's good, but any of these red flags should cause you to take a deeper look, or pass on it.
Also it seems like a good idea to check the reviews *specifically for astroturf*.
Also it seems like a good idea to check the reviews *specifically for astroturf*.
AirBNB's system (which allows hosts to retaliatory punish bad reviews by reviewing the guest) means you can't trust the ratio of good reviews to bad, but the thing the article describes where pairs of paper-thin hosts reviewed each other's listings in the same city? Red flag.
I've got the thing in my head that goes "ping" just at the host profiles in these cases. I'm trying to figure out how to put it into words, but: they're like stock photo people. Like when Taystee and Poussey on OITNB would do their white people personas. Studied inoffensiveness.
An upper middle class coupled with moderately trendy names who have an Air BNB... okay, there are reasons not to have a social media presence that ties to your advertisement of when you're not home at one of your properties. But they should lead a life that leaves fingerprints.
I don't know, maybe trying to find people based on a location, picture, and first name is further than most people would or could go in order to book an AirBNB.
But the Horatio Rule should be in full effect: if your mind dislike anything, obey it.
But the Horatio Rule should be in full effect: if your mind dislike anything, obey it.
Staging a person is as easy as staging a room, and follows the same principles: make it seem light, airy, and safe.
I don't want to accidentally provide doxing/Google stalking instructions but I just found a host's Twitter account in three searches and I'm 98% sure he's genuine, for instance.
Yes. Introducing time pressure is a key point in a lot of scams. In crisis mode, the world shrinks to the available (obvious) solutions and critical thinking only applies to solving the crisis.
AirBNB's own responses to these cases is to mention their rebooking services so I would say if you find yourself in the situation where the host is asking to move you to another location, it's probably better to rebook through AirBNB. Though it's possible that's also a crock.
I would imagine the weak point in the scam is that if you decline to be moved and the host has to cancel your booking... I mean, the guest can't be hit with a fee for that, right?
I'm interested and I might look into this more.
I'm interested and I might look into this more.
Also note that AirBNB only gives you the address after you've booked, so basically, think of making the reservation as the next step in your vetting. The feeling of "Thank goodness that's sorted." will otherwise carry you past the free cancellation period.
Yeah, I'm saying if you decline that -- which involves you cancelling your stay and booking another one -- and rebook through AirBNB, I'm not sure they can capture any of your money or penalize you.
But doing that on the spot, when you're in crisis mode, is going to be hard. It has to be something you know about going in.
And I absolutely agree that the whole thing is a natural environment for predatory behavior. But I have friends who use AirBNB to keep travel affordable.
And I absolutely agree that the whole thing is a natural environment for predatory behavior. But I have friends who use AirBNB to keep travel affordable.
I would call that a huge red flag. Even if they're on the level it feels like tempting fate. You can usually get a cheaper hotel fee by waiving cancellations, too, but most people don't unless they're in a huge pinch.
To be very clear, my idea here is not that AirBNB can be "fixed" by everyone being savvy consumers. Their model is broken. But for anyone who is stuck using their model, I'm interested in hashing out best practices to avoid getting stung.
That sounds like a near-escape, yeah. And even if they were on the level you did the right thing for you, and what AirBNB's customer protection seems to assume everyone would/should do.
I agree. The larger problem is with AirBNB and the scammers themselves. I don't have a systemic fix. I'm just interested in how people can recognize scams and avoid the sting.
The "sting" in a confidence trick, by the way, is analogous to the "prestige" in a magic trick. The current more common meaning of an undercover operation to trap criminals comes from police naming such operations after the movie The Sting.
People who enter into a situation thinking of themselves as wary consumers, watching out for scams, can still be stung. Almost everyone is on the look-out for a first tier bait-and-switch. The scam here bypasses that by creating a crisis and offering the guest a way out.
You'll notice in most of the stories, the host says the property is unavailable, and then there's a pause before they mention the other property.
Creating a crisis and then offering a way out of it exploits a different mindset than simply offering the switch outright would have.
So, to sum up:
1. Creep on your hosts.
2. Never book a property and date combination that doesn't allow a fully free 48 hour cancellation.
3. Creep the address as soon as you have it, compare to maps and photos.
4. Never cancel on your end at the host's request.
5. Have a plan.
1. Creep on your hosts.
2. Never book a property and date combination that doesn't allow a fully free 48 hour cancellation.
3. Creep the address as soon as you have it, compare to maps and photos.
4. Never cancel on your end at the host's request.
5. Have a plan.
Ran out of space, but "Have a plan" is "Have a plan for what you will do if you arrive and the host says the property is unavailable." Practice what you're going to do. Rehearse saying no to any deal with the host outside the system.
I mean, that's what I'd do. But there are people who have legitimate reasons for using AirBNB and I'm speaking to that.
Also on "paper people" hosts vs. real people, and why some people make my head go "ping"...
We use a relatively small number of cues to judge if a person is safe and trustworthy. If everyone is genuine, this usually works (albeit frequently also in racist/sexist/etc. ways.)
We use a relatively small number of cues to judge if a person is safe and trustworthy. If everyone is genuine, this usually works (albeit frequently also in racist/sexist/etc. ways.)
But just as it's easy to fake a steady gaze and a firm handshake, it's easy to construct personae that will immediately satisfy the "safe" criteria.
I don't know. The fake hosts in these stories all register as what my boyfriend calls "The White People From TV". Like somebody's Wine Brunch/Book Club-sona decided to invest in real estate.
By the way, when I say "creep on your hosts"... like I said, I found the twitter for the landlord for a random property in a destination city in three searches. But don't like contact them, even to verify "Hey, is this you?" or to try to get them to authenticate. That's creepy.
But I'd be worried about someone who looks like a social butterfly and describes a life in their brief host profile that I can find no evidence of. Finding evidence of it wouldn't be proof, but if you feel like you need more proof... it's probably best to keep moving.
I'm just going to point out that "meeting people when you travel alone" isn't universally a positive. It's the start of a lot of awkward to nightmare scenarios for women.
And some hotel chains flag women traveling alone for potential criminal activity.
And some hotel chains flag women traveling alone for potential criminal activity.
I will mention for the benefit of anyone who has some money and is traveling for leisure to a big tourist spot like Disney and is trying to accommodate a big family... Google "vacation rental [destination]" and you will find a lot of rich people's empty second houses.
Compare the cost of getting hotel rooms for, say, a family with four adult children and their partners that is convenient to a theme park or prestigious national park, to the price of renting a vacation house?
I'd do that before AirBNB.
I'd do that before AirBNB.
Also if you're a group of adult friends all going in together on a vacation or reunion or offline get together, a vacation rental home where everyone chips in can be cheaper than everybody getting a hotel room, and you get a kitchen and a living room to hang out in.
Just saying.
Just saying.
Like if you've ever dreamed of doing the equivalent of a Long Weekend LobbyCon with your online friends you see rarely, that's the way to go.
I am absolutely not in this thread trying to talk people into using AirBNB nor arguing that their system works.
But if you have reasons for using it, it helps to know the system, know the traps, know how to avoid them.
But if you have reasons for using it, it helps to know the system, know the traps, know how to avoid them.
