The National Police, in collaboration with Confianza Online (an association created in 2003 to increase user confidence on the Internet) and Airbnb, have released guidelines for tourists ahead of the upcoming summer season, on how to be careful of scams in holiday rentals, as a recent survey by Airbnb revealed that 60% customers acknowledge they have become more cautious regarding the price of accommodation.
According to a police press release, some of the most common ways for fraudsters to benefit from tourists are by asking them to make payments through bank transfers, using fake ads, phone calls, or cloned web pages.
The survey also highlights that travel is considered to be one of the most preferred leisure activities, and that almost three-quarters of people save up for several months for their summer holidays, so when the time comes to book, they admit that they sometimes do so impulsively.
“Now, more than ever, we must be cautious when booking our holidays. Avoiding unpleasant surprises is of the utmost importance and, therefore, we want to emphasize following the recommendations and instructions provided by platforms such as Airbnb, as well as the security advice that we are providing together with the National Police,” said Tiziana Tallaro, General Director of Confianza Online.
Tips to Avoid Being Scammed:
- Don’t click on links you don’t expect, meaning that links that redirect to websites that look familiar to those users are familiar with, should be avoided.
- Be cautious about very cheap offers or high deposit requirements, as very affordable prices could be a scam. In these cases, checking comments, and verifying the host’s identity and other account information, must be carefully investigated before booking such offers.
- Always paying by card and through the platform is one of the requirements that some scam websites have, and these usually ask for payments to be made to companies dedicated to sending money, money orders, or bank checks, so be wary.
Recommendations:
- Finalise bookings, payments and communications on the designated platforms only, such as Airbnb, and those that ask to leave the platform to complete booking or payments, should be avoided and the authorities notified.
- In addition, it is recommended the check the web link before making any booking or payments and to report anything suspect immediately.
Common Indications to Detect Possible Scammers:
Usually, scammers say they are abroad and don’t live nearby, thus an international transfer has to be made. Sometimes they are too professional, asking for a copy of the user’s ID before even making the reservation.
Another indication that the host can be a scammer is always being in a hurry to finish payment and asking for a deposit in advance.
