Holidays and online bookings: seven steps to avoid scams
A guide from the Postal Police and Airbnb to help consumers choose their summer destinations safely
Key points
- From non-existent houses to the host who vanishes
- Caution and safety
- Always check the URL of the website you are visiting
- Do not click on unexpected links
- Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true or high deposits
- Never pay by direct bank transfer
- Book, pay and communicate exclusively via the platform
- Read the reviews and the host’s profile
- Report any issues straight away
A seven-step guide to tackling online holiday booking scams. The Postal Police and Airbnb have put together a guide, just in time for the busiest and most popular season for those planning their summer holidays.
From non-existent houses to the host who vanishes
There are many different types of scams. One of the most common is the ‘ghost property’ scam: the accommodation is advertised with eye-catching images and competitive prices, often taken from legitimate listings and reused to deceive victims. Once travellers arrive at their destination, the property turns out to be non-existent, inaccessible, different from what was promised, or occupied by other guests who have also been scammed by the same advert. In other cases, the problem becomes apparent even earlier: after the deposit has been paid, the supposed host stops responding, leaving the traveller without accommodation and without a refund.
Caution and safety
According to Ivano Gabrielli, director of the Postal and Cyber Security Police, “the advice is to make caution a habit. The warning signs of a scam are almost always the same: a price that’s too low, a seller pushing to close the deal quickly, or payment outside the platform. When faced with these warning signs, there is only one right choice: stop, cancel the transaction and take those few minutes needed to carry out further checks’.
“Attempts at fraud on Airbnb are extremely rare, partly thanks to our policy of holding hosts’ payments until check-in has taken place. Furthermore, by communicating solely through the platform, guests are protected every step of the way. The partnership with the Postal Police is a further initiative designed for less experienced users booking online for the first time: it really only takes a few simple precautions to book your holiday safely,” explained Matteo Sarzana, Country Manager for Airbnb Italia.
But let’s take a look at the seven steps in the guide below.
