Concerns about a host and the payment policy

[Judy120]

I was interested in a location in Dublin and communicated with the host, however, I believe it was a third party property management group. They confirmed availability and asked for some specifics including an image of my driver's license to complete the booking. I later received an invoice via email with an Airbnb logo for a money transfer as oppose to payment through Airbnb. When I asked for clarification, they explained they had issues and do not accept credit card payment. 

I am new to Airbnb and would like some guidance. Does this seem like standard practice? If not, how do I report the property and host?

[Alice-and-Jeff0]

NO!  This is a scam.  Go back to the profile where you saw the listing and flag it.  Go to emails you have received where they asked for your driver's license and flag those as well (how did you send this anyway?).  This is not normal nor is it acceptable when using Airbnb.  

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/199/what-should-i-do-if-someone-asks-me-to-pay-outside-of-the-ai...

[Alice-and-Jeff0]

Do not communicate with them again outside of Airbnb's system.  When asked to do this by any host, beware.  Airbnb cannot protect you if you are using a regular email address to communicate. 

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/971/how-do-i-know-if-an-email-is-really-from-airbnb

You can also report all the emails and addresses to your email provider by noting that it is a Phishing scam. 

[Judy120]

Thank you so much for your response. I have canceled the request.

Unfortunately, this has compromised my trust in Airbnb, why was this property even listed?

[David126]

The scammers listed the site in the hope that people would pay outside the system and they could disappear with the money.

Not limited to AirBnB, I believe you will find them everywhere.

No doubt a numbers game, just need someone to bite.

I trust you flagged the listing with AirBnB.

[Alice-and-Jeff0]

Once you understand how Airbnb works more thoroughly, you will have more trust since you will know the process.  You are a brand new user - you are not verified and do not have any information provided in your "about me" section.  You are something of a target for scam operators because they know you are new.  And the fact that you were so willing to work outside the system made them even more excited, I'm sure.  Here are some ways for you to get to know Airbnb and how it works: 

https://www.airbnb.com/help/getting-started/how-it-works

https://www.airbnb.com/help/getting-started/how-to-travel

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/380/how-do-i-book-a-place-on-airbnb?topic=191

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/695/how-can-i-be-a-considerate-guest

https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/92/when-am-i-charged-for-a-reservation

[David126]

Yep a well known scam, probably lifted the photos from a real location. Often they have a photo with text the requires you to communicate outside the AirBnb system.

Easy enough to copy the AirBnb logo etc.

[Cormac0]

@Judy120

@Alice-and-Jeff0

@David126

The B.B.C. (British Broadcast Organisation) did an investigative programme on Airbnb and this swindle, the reporters could not understand how Airbnb could not identify these properties were not legitimate as it only took them a few minutes to check that one of them was University building and the other a multimillion dollar apartment for sales in Manhattan.

The reporters checked the photos using Google, surely Airbnb have the where withal to do the same.

It’s just not good enough to blame a guest inexperience, when Airbnb have this displayed as a legitimate hosting, If Airbnb don’t cop on soon their going to be regulated out of existence.

[David126]

@Cormac0 There has been no shortage of such reports, you will find many on here.

Not sure how many listings AirBnb host, many millions and to be fair to AirBnb how could they police such a thing?

Of course the ones that are brought to your attention are easy to spot, but first you have to find them.

If you want to go outside the AirBnb system that is up to you, but then blaiming them for the consequences seems a bit rich.

[Cormac0]

@David126

Airbnb could write some software attach it to a button so a potential guest could press this button and the software would check google for the authenticity of the photos on the hosting. This process would be done by exception and once the photos don't come back as listed on a realtor’s website etc. one is good to go.

Airbnb should be doing this in the back ground in any event.

By the way, there going outside the system because they don't know how the system works, who's fault is that? the whole purpose of Airbnb was to make this process simple for Guest.

There is a case to answer.

[Judy120]

Thanks David, you make a compelling argument and I hope Airbnb takes action.

As noted earlier in this thread, I am a newbie to this environment and fell prey to the scam. Luckily there was no monetary transaction, however, I did send my driver's license, as that was described on the Airbnb site as standard operating procedure. I am concerned and trust that Airbnb will follow up with me to ensure the authorities are looking into this individual and protecting my identity. 

I am curious David, do you use Airbnb?

Kindly,

Judy

[Alice-and-Jeff0]

@Cormac0 - When using Chrome, you can right click on any image at any time and get a drop down menu where one of the options is: "Search Google for image".  Google owns that technology and anyone can use it.  Here's the results from your image: 

[Cormac0]

@Alice-and-Jeff0

So you see it works I came up three times!, Try putting my apartment photo in the google search and see if it come back as listed for Sale or Admiral Nelson summer reteat.

A&J you came up eight times with helpfull advice for people.

[Alice-and-Jeff0]

It does come up - as being on the Airbnb site, not any others https://www.google.com/search?tbs=sbi:AMhZZitPhqqF1ai16xJwfSmI8xbWjoBlkcaHwpzis0pbPkiSY50lBtnzncritc...

My point being, if you want to check if a photo has been boosted from another site, right click, do an "image search" and see if it shows up anywhere else.  

[Alice-and-Jeff0]

@Judy120 - Airbnb is not going to contact you about protecting your identity.  

Based on what you said, you sent the potential lister your drivers license - how did you do this exactly?  

Airbnb may ask you to upload a copy of your Driver's license to verify you, but they would never send it to a host.  That would be a standard proceedure.  Another may be to provide your identification upon check in to the host.  Since Airbnb goes to great lengths to keep people chatting via the email system and not outside it, they strip photos and personal information.  Only after a reservation is made to addresses and names become available to both host and guest.