Victim of fraud on Airbnb - Help needed

JReacher1

LordLee wrote: »

I appreciate any help on here and the time it takes to reply. However i'm looking for advice on what to do NOW.

An error has been made and a fraudulent seller has scarpered with £647 or my friend's money. (As I say i did spot the curious payment options but it was too late.)

So i'm looking for advice on what could be done, if at all possible, to get any money back and to possibly bring this person to justice. (Also to make sure he does not do it to anyone else.)

As I stated before. He must have signed up and gone through some checks? If so Airbnb must have these? They are withholding them. To a criminal.

I don't think you have to go through any formal process to register an account. i don't know what checks Airbnb could really do to prove a listing was false. If I register with a fake name, fake email address and fake details I don't see how they will know. Even if they did have details they would only tell the police and not you.

All you can really do is do what you've done e.g. Report it to the bank and the police and follow Hollydays advice about action fraud.

LordLee

Thanks. Yes I have followed the useful advice and am waiting a response.

Another issue is my friend calling his bank within few hours to put a stop to the payment. They said they could recall it. But two weeks later the money has gone and they are not sure what to do.

Any legs in complaining here?


Just doing what I can to reduce damage.

JReacher1

LordLee wrote: »

Thanks. Yes I have followed the useful advice and am waiting a response.

Another issue is my friend calling his bank within few hours to put a stop to the payment. They said they could recall it. But two weeks later the money has gone and they are not sure what to do.

Any legs in complaining here?


Just doing what I can to reduce damage.

I'm surprised they said they could stop it as payment can be almost instantaneous these days.

Complaining to the bank is worth doing but I would be surprised if they would refund a payment that you voluntarily sent over to someone. If they can't claim the money back for the fraudsters bank account they won't be refunding you.

[Deleted User]

LordLee wrote: »

He must have signed up and gone through some checks? If so Airbnb must have these? They are withholding them. To a criminal.

They would only be obliged to release such information to the relevant authorities. What would you do with the information anyhow? You could only forward these to the police.

As already mentioned, contact Action Fraud
http://www.actionfraud.police.uk

Whether the extorted money is recovered is another matter.

Complaining to the Bank will not get you a refund since your friend paid the money voluntarily and could not stop the payment

LordLee

Out of interest if anyone replies to an email scam or phishing email and enters details it seems to be taken more seriously. But my situation is pretty much the same.

I am surprised by responses. If I was conned in the street by a confidence trickster. People would be saying what an a***hole you need to make sure you get him arrested and get your money back.

But over a website it's very much... "Well you were silly. More fool you."

JReacher1

LordLee wrote: »

Out of interest if anyone replies to an email scam or phishing email and enters details it seems to be taken more seriously. But my situation is pretty much the same.

I am surprised by responses. If I was conned in the street by a confidence trickster. People would be saying what an a***hole you need to make sure you get him arrested and get your money back.

But over a website it's very much... "Well you were silly. More fool you."

I don't think people think you were silly you just unfortunately fell for a scam. You've asked what you can do about it and unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much you can do to get your money back.

[Deleted User]

LordLee wrote: »

Out of interest if anyone replies to an email scam or phishing email and enters details it seems to be taken more seriously. But my situation is pretty much the same.

How are they taken more "seriously"?

LordLee wrote: »

I am surprised by responses. If I was conned in the street by a confidence trickster. People would be saying what an a***hole you need to make sure you get him arrested and get your money back.

I could say this to you , but to what end? You were conned, but you were only as gullible as the man in the street sold "genuine" leather goods.

LordLee wrote: »

But over a website it's very much... "Well you were silly. More fool you."

You appear to think we should be responding differently and that will in some way get your money back. It won't.
The truth is that you fell for a clever scam. You fell so comprehensively that the scammer is unlikely to be caught and your money is unlikely to be returned.

You've tried to pin the blame on Airbnb, but as you paid the money directly to the so-called "seller" they will not take responsibility.
It's the same with your Bank, they won't refund simply because the bank transfer was already in progress when you tried to get it stopped.

All you can do is report the crime and hope that the perpetrator is caught.

In the meantime your thread stands as a warning to others not to respond to scam E-Mails..

LilElvis

JReacher1 wrote: »

I don't think people think you were silly you just unfortunately fell for a scam. You've asked what you can do about it and unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much you can do to get your money back.

.... and the police won't be able to do much if, as you suspect, the fraudster is operating from overseas.

LordLee

I don't think anyone should be responding differently. I'm not talking about you guys. I'm talking about the tone of voice of Airbnb and people I've spoken too.

I'm angry and feel stupid is all, and just looking for the best case scenario

JReacher1

LordLee wrote: »

I don't think anyone should be responding differently. I'm not talking about you guys. I'm talking about the tone of voice of Airbnb and people I've spoken too.

I'm angry and feel stupid is all, and just looking for the best case scenario

Airbnb won't be sympathetic as they wont want to be seen as being liable for this issue therefore they will as you have found out just wash their hands of it.

Best case scenario is the police catch them I would think or the bank gets the money back.