There are also scammers on Airbnb.
Many holidaymakers book their accommodation via accommodation portals such as Airbnb, wimdu or 9flats. com. But such platforms not only bring private landlords and travelers together, they also attract fraudsters.
“Supposedly cheap offers with fake reviews are intended to persuade consumers to send their inquiry to a specified email address,”
reports Tatjana Halm, legal expert at the Bavarian Consumer Center .
Anyone who then books will receive confirmation from a fake address where the only possible method of payment is a bank transfer abroad.
“This cannot be reversed after payment has been made,”
warns the lawyer.
The Bavarian Consumer Center advises not to respond directly to a landlord's email address in such an offer. The exchange with the host, as well as payment, should always take place via the platform and a corresponding contact form.
“If the landlord wants to receive the money into a foreign account or by transfer via payment services such as Western Union, this indicates fraudulent activities,”
says Tatjana Halm. In addition, consumers should make sure that the abbreviation “https” appears in front of the web address. Without this, there is a high risk that the site is unsafe or even fake.
If you have any questions about the topic, you can contact the Bavarian Consumer Center. The local advice centers can be found at www.verbraucherzentrale-bayern.de .
Notes:
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