Victim of fraud on Airbnb - Help needed

hollydays

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

Googling similar cases seems to indicate sometimes they'll pay out, sometimes they won't. Its down to you to read those articles and decide how best to appeal to them.

JReacher1

This doesn't help but it's quite interesting.

http://gizmodo.com/never-pay-for-airbnb-by-wire-transfer-because-its-alway-1702559921

[Deleted User]

JReacher1 wrote: »

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.

Yes, if the company involve themselves too readily then they open themselves up to accusations that they were admitting liability.

JReacher1 wrote: »

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

Doesn't sound likely if the person resides "abroad" though, does it?

hollydays wrote: »

Googling similar cases seems to indicate sometimes they'll pay out, sometimes they won't. Its down to you to read those articles and decide how best to appeal to them.

They are very unlikely to "pay out" in the circumstances described, though. It seems very cut and dried to me.

That's not to say the OP can't write and appeal to their goodwill.

[Deleted User]

JReacher1 wrote: »

This doesn't help but it's quite interesting.

http://gizmodo.com/never-pay-for-airbnb-by-wire-transfer-because-its-alway-1702559921

You're right it doesn't help, it's just rubbing salt in the Op's £647 wound!:(

It does show how widespread the scam is and how carefully people should tread when responding to "legitimate looking" E-Mails.

I'm truly saddened that you've lost this money, OP and I'm sorry there is nothing this forum (or any other) can do to help you retrieve your stolen money.

flightboy

Im guessing the biggest issue you will have it because Airbnb say to use the messaging function on its site ( so they can see it all i guess ) but i assume at some point you must have gave the ad poster your email? maybe for a discounted rate?

Sadly heard of a few people who thought that was a good idea and ended up paying the price literally its a old ebay scam

Hope the bank can do something good luck

Sicard

Surely there must be a paper trail of where the money ends up though. What with the 'money laundering' paranoia of the banking world anyone opening up a bank account must pass some fairly stringent tests. I had to show a passport, utility bill etc to open up an account.

bod1467

The problem with BACS/faster payment though is that it is done with the sender's consent - the sender initiates it so the sender is responsible if they've fallen victim to a scam, or have sent it to the wrong account. Any payment is made voluntarily.

Add in the geography issue and OP's on a hiding to nothing trying to get it back from the recipient. And from what I've read here, AirBnB have no liability as the payment was made outside their system.

takman

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."

But the problem that you have with this scam is that it's a pretty simple scam and could have easily been avoided!. It's all over the site saying how your supposed to make a payment through them. But instead you made a direct payment to bank details sent in an email using a method that everyone should know is not secure.

The only way to stop these scams is if people like you stop falling for them and paying them money!.

LordLee

takman wrote: »

But the problem that you have with this scam is that it's a pretty simple scam and could have easily been avoided!. It's all over the site saying how your supposed to make a payment through them. But instead you made a direct payment to bank details sent in an email using a method that everyone should know is not secure.

The only way to stop these scams is if people like you stop falling for them and paying them money!.

Once again... i realise this. I'm just trying to see if there is anything that can be salvaged from the situation. Aside from a lesson learnt.

dragonsoup

This shows up sadly what a false sense of security booking through a big listing site gives you. Most of them require no proof that you own the property you are listing! AirBnB take a huge booking fee on top of the rental price but you don't get much for that.

Find the property on one of the big sites by all means but then go looking for it elsewhere - you'll save a fortune in booking fees for one thing but equally importantly a fraudster is much less likely to bother to create a social media presence (I get a lot of my bookings now via FaceBook) or pay for a dedicated website. This all takes time, money and commitment which shows the genuine owners.