Airbnb Scam UK: Spot a Fake Listing
Thousands of UK holiday and business travellers lose money every year to fake Airbnb listings — but you can spot them if you know what to look for.
What an Airbnb scam listing looks like
An Airbnb scam uses a fake or hijacked listing, or a host who pushes you to pay outside the Airbnb app, to take money for a property that does not exist, is not really available, or is very different from what was advertised. An example of the style is: Great news, I can offer a better rate if you pay directly by bank transfer instead of through Airbnb — I'll send you the booking details once you pay.
Once the booking or main payment is moved outside Airbnb, Airbnb's protections may not apply. This guide shows the warning signs, how to book safely, and what to do if you have already been caught out.
Why these scams are convincing
A genuine-looking listing with real photos, reviews, and a plausible host profile builds trust, and a slightly better price for paying "directly" sounds like a reasonable saving. Some scams use a hijacked, previously genuine host account, which carries real historical reviews that make the listing look established.
The rule that protects you: keep the reservation, main payment, and booking messages inside Airbnb. Treat any unexpected request to pay a host directly by bank transfer, PDF invoice, money order, or similar method as a major red flag.
Signs an Airbnb listing is a scam
- The host asks you to pay outside the Airbnb app, by bank transfer or another method.
- The price is well below similar listings in the same area.
- The host pushes you to move the conversation to WhatsApp, text, or personal email.
- Photos look inconsistent with the description, or appear to be taken from another listing.
- The host has few or no reviews, or the listing was created very recently.
- You are asked to "confirm" a booking through a link that is not inside the Airbnb app or website.
How the scam works
First, an attractive listing appears, sometimes on a genuine or hijacked host account. Second, the host offers a discount or urgency to pay directly, off the platform. Third, you pay by bank transfer or another unprotected method. Fourth, the property does not exist, is unavailable, or is very different from advertised, and Airbnb's protections may not apply because the booking or main payment moved outside the platform. Finally, the host becomes unreachable.
Keeping the reservation and main payment inside Airbnb breaks the chain.
How to book on Airbnb safely
Never move the booking or payment off the platform.
- Keep the reservation and main payment through the Airbnb app or website, never by bank transfer to a host directly.
- Use Airbnb's Resolution Centre or official Airbnb checkout for Airbnb-related payments; question any private invoice or transfer request.
- Be suspicious of any discount offered specifically for paying off-platform.
- Check the host's review history and how long the listing has existed.
- Compare the listing's price and description with similar properties in the same area.
- Contact Airbnb support through the app if anything about a listing or host feels off before you pay.
If you are unsure whether a listing is genuine, our guide on Is This Website a Scam? A Practical Checklist Before You Buy helps, and our Rightmove Rental Scam UK: Spot Fake Property Listings guide covers the same off-platform-payment pattern in long-term rentals.
If you have already paid off-platform
If you paid by card, contact your bank or card issuer using the number on your card and ask about disputing the payment or a chargeback. If you sent money by UK bank transfer on or after 7 October 2024, mandatory APP fraud reimbursement rules may apply to Faster Payments and CHAPS transfers. The PSR rules include a 13-month claim window, a maximum claim amount of £85,000, possible exclusions, and a possible excess of up to £100. Report it to your bank as soon as possible.
Report the host and listing to Airbnb immediately, though Airbnb's protections may not apply to a booking or main payment moved outside the platform. If you shared identity details, consider Cifas Protective Registration at cifas.org.uk and monitor your credit reports with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Keep the listing, messages, and payment details as evidence.
How to report an Airbnb scam (UK)
Report the host or listing directly to Airbnb through the app or its help centre. If the scam reached you by email, forward it to the NCSC at report@phishing.gov.uk; if by text, forward it to 7726.
If you lost money, report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040 if you are in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. In Scotland, report to Police Scotland on 101. Keep all your evidence, including the listing and any messages.
Frequently asked questions
Is Airbnb itself a scam, or just used by scammers?
Airbnb is a genuine platform; the risk comes from hosts trying to move you off-platform or from fake and hijacked listings. The clearest warning sign is a host who wants payment by bank transfer instead of through the app.
A host offers a discount if I pay them directly instead of through Airbnb — should I?
No. Keep the reservation and main payment through Airbnb. A private bank transfer for the booking removes important platform protections and is a major red flag.
How can I tell if an Airbnb listing has been hijacked?
A sudden change in how a long-established, well-reviewed listing communicates — especially a push to pay off-platform — can be a sign of a hijacked account. Treat any off-platform payment request as a red flag regardless of the listing's history.
I paid a host directly and the property didn't exist — can I get my money back?
Possibly, but Airbnb's own protections may not apply to a booking or main payment moved off-platform. If you paid by card, ask your bank about a chargeback.
How do I report an Airbnb scam?
Report the host or listing to Airbnb through the app or help centre, then if you lost money, report it to Report Fraud in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, or to Police Scotland on 101 in Scotland.