The most common forms of Airbnb scams

Although Airbnb actively tries to combat scams, its great popularity also attracts scammers. Finns lose significant sums each year in various Airbnb scams, especially during the holiday season and at popular destinations.

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The number of Airbnb scams has increased significantly in recent years. Scammers use increasingly sophisticated techniques to lure victims. In addition, there are entirely Airbnb-imitating fake websites that are hard to tell apart from the real one.

The most common forms of Airbnb scams:

Off-platform payments – The host asks you to pay outside the Airbnb platform "to save the service fee".
Fake property listings – Scammers create attractive listings for properties that do not exist or do not match the description.
Hijacked user accounts – Scammers use hacked, previously well-reputed Airbnb accounts for scams.
Forged websites – Scammers create Airbnb-imitating websites to collect payment and personal details.
Phishing messages – Scammers send messages that appear to come from Airbnb and ask for login or payment details.
"Bait and switch" scams – The host claims the booked property is available but, on arrival, offers a poorer alternative citing various reasons.
Fake reviews – Scammers buy or create fake reviews to make their property look trustworthy.
Emergency scams – Just before arrival, the host reports a "problem" and asks for an extra payment or to move the money to another account.

How to recognise a suspicious Airbnb listing?

When looking for accommodation on Airbnb, pay attention to these warning signs:

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Too low a price – If the price is significantly below the market price in the same area, it is probably a scam.
Photos that are too good – Professional, perfect photos that look like they come from real estate agency sites or magazines.
A new host profile – The profile is newly created and has no previous reviews.
Incomplete information – The listing has scant information or inaccurate location details.
Suspicious reviews – All reviews are 5 stars and use similar language or come from new users.
An unusually urgent rental request – The host pressures you to make a quick decision and payment.
A request to communicate outside Airbnb – The host wants to move the communication to email, WhatsApp or another platform.
Unusual payment requests – The host asks you to pay somewhere other than via the Airbnb platform or asks for an advance payment directly to an account.

Always check the host’s profile carefully. Pay attention to the profile’s age, the verified details (such as identity, phone number and email) and previous reviews. A trustworthy host usually has several positive reviews over a long period.

Making a safe Airbnb booking

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Always stay on the Airbnb platform – Do all communication, bookings and payments through the Airbnb app or the official website.
Use a strong password and two-step verification – Protect your Airbnb account with a strong password and enable two-step verification.
Check the URL and the site’s authenticity – Make sure you are using the official Airbnb site (https://www.airbnb.com or country-specific versions).
Read the reviews carefully – Pay particular attention to negative or critical reviews and how the host has responded to them.
Use Google Maps Street View – Check the property’s address and surroundings using Google Maps.
Do an image search with the property’s photos – Use a reverse image search (Google Images) to make sure the photos have not been copied from elsewhere.
Ask for more photos and information – Ask the host clarifying questions and request up-to-date photos of the property.
Never pay outside Airbnb – Even if the host promises a discount, never pay outside the Airbnb platform.
Check the housing company’s rules – Make sure Airbnb rental is not prohibited in the property’s housing company.

Remember that Airbnb offers significant protection mechanisms for the person making the booking, but these only work when you use the official platform for communication and payment. If the host asks you to pay outside the platform, you lose these protections.

The latest Airbnb scam methods

Airbnb scams are constantly evolving. It is worth paying particular attention to these latest scam phenomena:

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Hidden fee scams – The host adds extra, surprising costs after arrival, such as cleaning fees or "electricity usage fees".
Fake booking sites – Scammers have created Airbnb-like websites whose URL is slightly altered (e.g. airbnb-booking.com or airbnb-homes.com).
Property safety problems – The host claims there is a safety problem with the property and proposes moving to another, often poorer, property.
Superhost fraud – Scammers buy hijacked Superhost accounts to increase trustworthiness.
Forged location markers – The property is marked in the wrong place on the map, often in a better area than where it actually is.
Fake wifi networks – The property offers a wifi network that actually monitors the user’s traffic or steals login details.

Hidden fees and extra-charge scams

An increasingly common phenomenon is a hidden fee that does not appear in the booking’s total price. The host may demand, for example, an extra fee of about 20 euros for each guest beyond two, but the mention is hidden at the end of the listing in small text. The payment is requested directly to the host only on site or after the stay, whereby Airbnb’s protection does not cover it. In Finland this has been observed especially at northern travel destinations.

Remember the rule: on Airbnb, the full price must be shown already at the booking stage. Genuine extra fees may be charged only for clearly indicated additional services, such as cleaning or use of the sauna – not afterwards by message. If you are asked to pay a fee that did not appear when the booking was made, it is probably a hidden fee that breaks the rules, which you can report to Airbnb.

Airbnb’s payment rule tightened in 2025

In May 2025, Airbnb tightened its rules on payment transparency. All mandatory fees must now be shown in the booking price, and the host may not add separate fees by message outside the booking. This gives you a clear way to check: if the host asks for a payment in an Airbnb message without it appearing in the booking price, they are breaking Airbnb’s rules – and do not pay.

Forged Airbnb gift cards and coupons

Consumer authorities have warned about a scam in which forged Airbnb gift cards or coupons are sold unusually cheaply, often ahead of the holiday season. The payment is directed away from Airbnb’s official system. An important fact: Airbnb coupons are issued only by Airbnb itself and cannot be transferred from one user to another. Therefore a coupon sold by a third party is almost always a scam.

Be especially careful if you receive emails or messages that appear to come from Airbnb but ask you to click a link or provide login details. Airbnb never asks for your password by email or text message.

How to act if you suspect a scam or have become a victim

If you suspect you have been targeted by an Airbnb scam, act quickly according to the following instructions:

Contact Airbnb customer service immediately. The safest way is to log in yourself at airbnb.com/help – do not click links in emails or text messages, as scammers forge them. Once logged in, you can contact support by message or via the in-app chat. For payment requests, refunds and compensation claims, use Airbnb’s Resolution Center. Beware of "Airbnb support numbers" listed on third-party sites, as some of them are run by scammers.
Document everything – Save all messages, images, payment details and other evidence of the scam.
If you are already at the property and it does not match the description, take photos as evidence and report the problem to Airbnb within 24 hours of arrival.
If you paid outside Airbnb, contact your bank or credit card company to reverse the payment as soon as possible.
Report the scam to the police. You can file a police report online at poliisi.fi.
If you gave out your personal details, monitor your account information for any unauthorised transactions and consider using identity protection services.

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Airbnb offers 24/7 support and several protection mechanisms, such as the Airbnb guarantee for guests. If you encounter problems that the host does not resolve satisfactorily, Airbnb can help with re-accommodation or refund your money – but only if you have used their platform for the payment.

Summary

Airbnb is usually a safe accommodation service, but scams occur regularly. With the right caution you can avoid them. The most important things to remember:

Always use the official Airbnb app or website for making bookings and for communication.
Never pay outside Airbnb, even if the host promises a discount.
Always check the host’s profile, reviews and verified details carefully.
If an offer feels too good to be true, it is probably a scam.
Document all problems and report them to Airbnb without delay.
Trust your instinct – if something feels suspicious, rather choose a different property.

OstoSafe.fi constantly updates information about new scam methods. Visit our website regularly and use our scam checker to get advice for safe travelling and safe use of accommodation services.

Recognising Airbnb scams