Warning signs
- 1
A new host with no history
A host who joined this year, has no reviews and offers an entire apartment in a sought-after area at a low price deserves a closer look.
- 2
A price well below comparable stays
If similar apartments in the area cost twice as much, ask why. “Too good to be true” is the oldest lure there is.
- 3
Contact details in the description
Phone numbers, WhatsApp, Telegram or a Gmail address in the listing text are there to move you off Airbnb – and away from its payment protection.
- 4
A request to pay outside Airbnb
Bank transfer, PayPal “friends & family”, a “special link” or “Airbnb is having payment issues” – Airbnb doesn't allow payments outside the platform, and you'd lose all protection.
- 5
Photos that appear elsewhere
The same photos under a different name or on a different site point to a fake listing.
- 6
A vague location and evasive answers
A host who won't confirm the street, or whose answers don't match the listing, is a reason to walk away.
What to do
- Open the host profile: when did they join, how many reviews do they have, are they verified?
- Compare the price with 3–4 similar listings in the same area for the same dates.
- Keep all communication and every payment inside Airbnb.
- Reverse-search two or three photos with Google Lens and check the street on Street View.
- Run a free StayDetective check – it catches contact lures and new host profiles; the full report adds photo, price and community checks.
What our check looks at
- Contact lures in the listing text (phone, WhatsApp, private e-mail)free check
- Host profile agefree check
- Price vs. comparable stays for the same datesfull report
- Reverse search of the listing photosfull report
- Scam reports and forum discussions about the propertyfull report
Questions
Does Airbnb protect me if I pay outside the platform?+
No. Airbnb's protections and refund policies only cover bookings and payments made through Airbnb. That's exactly why scammers try to move you elsewhere.
Is a new host always a risk?+
No – every host starts somewhere. A new host is one signal; it matters when it comes together with a low price, contact details in the text or photos found elsewhere.