Fake Airbnb and holiday rental listings

How it works

A listing uses photos stolen from a real property, or from stock images, often for a suspiciously large or well-located home at a low price
The "host" quickly moves communication off the platform, to email or messaging apps
Once contact is off-platform, they ask for payment by bank transfer, gift card, or an external payment link, claiming a platform glitch or a "direct booking discount" for skipping fees
After payment, the host becomes unreachable, or victims arrive to find the property does not exist, is not actually for rent, or is already occupied by other genuine guests

Red flags

A request to communicate or pay outside the booking platform's official messaging and payment system
A price significantly below comparable properties in the same area and dates
A brand-new host account with no reviews, or reviews that all appear within a short time of each other
Reluctance to do a video call or answer specific questions about the property
Urgency to book immediately due to "high demand" from other guests

How to protect yourself

Always pay through the platform's official checkout — never by bank transfer, gift card, or an external link, however plausible the reason given
Check the host's review history, join date, and whether reviews mention the same address or details as the listing
Reverse-image-search suspicious listing photos to check whether they appear elsewhere online
Message the host through the platform first and be wary if they push you off it quickly

If it happens to you

If you paid through the platform and the listing is fraudulent, report it immediately through the platform's official support — most major platforms offer a guarantee for bookings made and paid for on-platform
If you paid by bank transfer outside the platform, contact your bank immediately — recovery is far less certain, so speed matters
Report the listing and host to Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk) and to the platform so it can be removed

Report to: Action Fraud

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it ever legitimate for a host to ask for payment outside the platform?

Treat this as a red flag in almost every case. Legitimate hosts on major platforms are paid through the platform's system, which is also what triggers your buyer protection — paying off-platform removes that protection entirely, even if the host has a plausible-sounding reason.

How can I tell if listing photos are stolen?

Reverse-image-search a few photos from the listing. If identical images appear on a different platform, under a different host name, or attached to a different address, the listing is very likely fraudulent.

This page is general safety guidance, not legal or financial advice, and scam tactics evolve constantly. If you are the victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud.

Written by Emma Walsh

Editor, Hotels & Europe

Emma reviews boutique and independent hotels across Europe, alongside British Airways and Oneworld product reviews. She writes FlightLogic's Avios redemption guides.

87+Reviews

410K+Miles Flown

22Countries

5 yrsCovering Travel