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Airbnb has made booking places a lot easier for those looking to stay for short travels, from affordable studio units to more luxurious houses and condo units. However, since everything is online, it’s normal to doubt whether an Airbnb listing is legit or a scam.
A couple of years ago, my wife booked an Airbnb unit in Legazpi City for her brother and sister, who were taking the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). However, when they arrived at the unit, the caretaker said they didn’t have an Airbnb account and that bookings were made through a different listing website. Can you imagine the stress of looking for a place to stay during a peak season, like an exam date?
However, the experience was not entirely unique, as many scammers also use Airbnb listings (among other apps) to defraud people, preying on unsuspecting travelers looking for a place to stay.
So, if you want to avoid future headaches in the app while still enjoying its benefits, here are some tips.
1. Check the host’s profile
The first thing you need to check when looking for an Airbnb unit to book is to check the host’s profile. On the listing, click the “Hosted by …” to redirect you to their main profile. In it, you will see the host’s status, whether they are a regular host or a superhost, and their profile picture. You will also see his average rating (I prefer at least 4.75 stars), the number of reviews, and how long they have been hosting.
For instance, in this example, you can see that “Ernesto” is a Superhost, has 62 reviews, a 4.97-star rating, and has been hosting for eight months. These details are a great starting point, as a Superhost status is harder to get, and with less than a year of hosting, Ernesto shows great potential.
After experiencing an Airbnb scam, we now often book units managed by Superhosts because it’s a seal of approval from Airbnb.
Red Flag: You should watch out for units with a fairly new host (less than 3 months) and no rating and review. Though it doesn’t mean the listing is fake, it’s one red flag. It’s just harder to trust those types of listings.
2. Check the host’s verification status
You can check the verification status of a host by looking for a red badge with a checkmark on their profile picture, similar to those in social media accounts. This verification status is important because Airbnb checks if the host is real by requiring them to submit personal details, complete address, phone number, government-issued ID, and others.
Red Flag: If a host can’t do a simple verification process to ensure their identity to Airbnb, it’s harder to trust those listings.
3. Read the reviews left by past guests
Reviews are one of the crucial details to identify the authenticity of a listing because only those who have booked and stayed in the Airbnb listing are allowed to leave a review of the unit and the host (they review you as well).
Focus on recent reviews because users can only leave a review within 14 days. Look for specific details about the property, like the conditions of the furniture and appliances. You can check the unit’s current status because the uploaded pictures may already be outdated. You should also be wary of listings with very few or generic reviews.
Red Flag: A single bad review is a warning, but multiple bad reviews are a stop sign. If you read several bad reviews of the unit and/or the host, skip it. The star rating should also reflect the bad reviews.
4. Check the listing details
You should always check the listing details. Read the details, such as the information on the location, amenities, house rules, etc. Also, review the uploaded photos carefully to see if they are professional-looking, authentic, and match the description of the unit. You may do a reverse image search to check if the uploaded photos have just been taken from the Internet.
You can also use maps and other resources to check if the listing details match the location and are not just copied and pasted from another Airbnb host.
Red Flag: Be careful of listings with a lot of missing essential details. You should also watch out for pictures with watermarks or low quality as they are likely just grabbed from somewhere on the Internet.
5. Compare prices with other listings
Airbnb listing prices should reflect the general price range of the area, particularly if they offer the same number of rooms and amenities.
For instance, you’re trying to book a unit around Mandaluyong, and you notice that most listings range from Php2,000 to Php4,000 per night for a studio unit. So, if you see an out-of-place Php900 per night unit in the same vicinity, it’s a warning sign.
Remember, if the price is too good to be true, it probably is.
Red Flag: Be wary of room listings that are too cheap relative to the area. For example, finding a Php1,000 one-bedroom Airbnb unit a night in BGC is almost impossible. So, if you found one, check the other details because it’s more likely a fake listing.
6. Communicate within the Airbnb app
Airbnb has its in-app or web-based messaging system, allowing guests and hosts to communicate seamlessly and securely. It’s essential that the host is responsive and answers your queries promptly and professionally.
Red Flag: When the host insists on using a different messaging app outside the Airbnb app, like Whatsapp or Messenger, it’s a warning sign. The host should also be responsive, at least within the day.
7. Pay only using Airbnb’s secure payment system
Airbnb typically holds the payment until the end of the business day of your scheduled check-in date. This is to ensure the legitimacy of the unit. Holding payments for the host also allows for easier refunding if things go wrong. For example, in my siblings-in-law’s Airbnb fake listing experience, we immediately recovered the paid funds after reporting the booking issue.
It’s also recommended to use a credit card instead of a debit card when booking Airbnb to have another layer of protection if the unit is a scam.
Red Flag: Never agree to pay if the host requests payment for the unit outside the Airbnb secure system. If this happens, you may have difficulty refunding your payment if the listing turns out to be fake.
Airbnb doesn’t own any infrastructure but provides people who own units a platform to rent out their properties. However, the rise of digitalization also paved the way for the rise of scammers, including fake listings on Airbnb. So, always be cautious of suspicious listings. Sometimes, it’s good to trust your gut.
Have you ever experienced Airbnb scams before? Please share your story in the comments below.
This article, How to know if an Airbnb listing is legit, was originally published at NoypiGeeks | Philippines Technology News, Reviews and How to's.
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