In the world of the web there can be many pitfalls, especially when it comes to shopping. And if your intention is to book a holiday home online, the risk of being scammed is substantial – and also that of having your trip completely ruined. What are the tips for avoiding these dangers?
The postal police, in collaboration Altroconsumo and Airbnb, has compiled a mini anti-scam guide entitled On vacation like at home: book and leave safely. With a staggering increase in online vacation rental bookings over the past few years (one trend in constant growth), it is becoming more and more important to prevent this widespread phenomenon: indeed on the web it is easier to run into some scam which can cost you your entire vacation.
The golden rule to avoid problems in online bookings is read the announcement carefully. Already from these few lines it is possible to understand a lot: a detailed and well-kept description is probably an indication of greater accuracy also in the management of reservations. Then you don’t have to to be duped by offers that are too cheap, especially if they come from profiles created for a very short time or that do not have reviews.
If you want to rely on the Airbnb platform to find your holiday home, make sure you are on the right site. There are in fact many clone pages that hide well thought out scams: most of them have rather complicated web addresses, which should immediately set off an alarm bell. It is advisable to take particular care if you are in contact with someone, met around the web, who gives you their ad link on Airbnb, because they could redirect you to a bogus site.
Also remember to do not communicate with the landlord outside the platform, especially if in the face of a discount promise: in this way you will lose the protection of Airbnb and you are at risk of scam. Likewise, never agree to pay directly with transfer or to send a deposit, because it is contrary to the terms of the service. the only payment methods you should agree to are those explicitly provided for by the site.
Another typical problem with vacation homes is the presence of bait housing: after booking your accommodation, you will arrive at the meta you are asked to accept an exchange, of much lower value. Do not believe in possible excuses such as the onset of problems in the house originally chosen by you, rather document what happened and contact Airbnb for a full refund.
The anti-scam guide it then shares three typical profiles of scammers online, to warn shoppers of possible scams. The first is that of the fake owner who moved abroad, who immediately asks for your documents and an international bank transfer as a deposit. The second profile is that of the host who, after creating a real ad on the portal and having “lured” a possible customer, asks to move the conversation via email and sends you a new link that leads to an ad on a bogus site.
Finally, there is the friendly owner, who treats you with all the appropriate courtesy and offers you a big discount if you agree to cancel your booking on Airbnb and to deal with him privately. It is the prelude to a bank transfer that will never have your coveted holiday home as payment.
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