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Imposter Airbnb

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Imposter Airbnb Reports & Reviews (17)

- Cary, NC, USA
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The owner posted apartment available for Airbnb. She already had someone staying there and would not answer my phone for a refund. She’s a scammer.

I drove 7 hours for my trip and ended up going back home

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Found a listing on Craigslist for an apartment downtown Orlando in a great area. The price was right, too good to be true. Emailed "owner", he stated he rented through Airbnb, and they would complete the transaction. They contacted me via email, and took payment from me via Zelle. I received a confirmation from what I thought was Airbnb. I called Airbnb customer service, and they didn't have a record of my reservation. I tried to contact the owner Arthur McGrath several times after I made payment, with no response. I went on you tube after realizing that I had need had, and the video was describing everything that happened to me. WARNING: DO NOT BELIEVE ANYONE WHO IS LISTING AN APARTMENT ON CRIAGSLIST THROUGH AIRBNB.

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- Paterson, NJ, USA
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I was scammed into wiring $1,860 to an Airbnb host named “Tony”. Upon being informed by Airbnb that I was a victim of fraud Airbnb wiped their hands and told me they are not responsible. I told them that remedial action should be taken to prevent this from occurring to other, in turn, they stated that the website I used although similar to Airbnb is not Airbnb. Overall, I was fooled into sending a money for a booking that doesn’t exist and Airbnb did nothing about it.

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I found an ad on Craiglist and reached out to a [email protected]. I was soon contacted by an Arabella de Bruyne [email protected]. All of her messages to me below:

"Hi,

Thanks for your interest in renting my apartment, I'm flexible in renting 3- to 24-month lease.
It's a one bedroom with one bathroom apartment, here you can see some pictures: https://myalbum.com/album/6GaqZ2X9wpBV
Apartment address: 210 Dolores St, San Francisco, CA 94103

The apartment comes fully furnished and with all the necessary amenities, exactly as you can see in the pictures, with dishwasher, washing machine, air conditioning, TV and internet. The pets are accepted. Also, it's a private parking space available for free.

The rental price per month is $900,00, security deposit is $900,00 so the total cost to move in is $1,800.00.

My name is Arabella de Bruyne and I'm originally from Amsterdam, Netherlands. I have worked in the United States for three years and I bought the apartment during my stay there. I'm the owner of it. Now, I have moved with my work in Madrid, Spain for at least 4 years and I'm interested in renting through Airbnb. I'm looking for a serious and responsible person to care, keep the house clean and see it as his own home. It would be great if you can send me some personal information about you (age, employment, lifestyle, etc)?

If you are interested please let me know so I can explain how you can rent my apartment through Airbnb."

"Hi again,

As I've said in my previous email, I will rent the apartment through Airbnb. I don't know if you have used Airbnb before. Airbnb is the biggest rental company in the world, you can rent a property everywhere in the world and if something goes wrong, you are covered and protected by them. If it's something you don't like, or if the apartment isn't as described, you will receive a full refund with no further questions in 24 hours, but I'm sure you will love my apt and this will not happen. On the move-in day, you will meet with an Airbnb agent in front of the apt, he/she will give you the keys and show you the apartment.

To make the Airbnb listing I need a few details from you:

1. your complete name along with a picture of your ID;
2. The date when you want to move in;
3. How many months you want to rent the apt;
4. how many people will stay there;
5. Your whats app number so we can speak directly.

After I will receive your details I will list the apartment on Airbnb and they will send you a link where you need to book your stay and complete the payment for your reservation within 24 hours."

"Dear XXX,

We can make the first contract for 6 months and after this period we can renew it.
I do not intend to come back to us or sell the apartment in the next few years, so this will be your new home.

Everything sounds great! I just wanted to let you know that I have decided to rent the apt to you. I hope you will enjoy it and will take good care of it!

I will make the Airbnb listing today and you will receive an email from Airbnb once it's done.

Thanks, Arabella"

After I sent my payment through Transferwire.com to the following, no more communication from Arabella:

- Their email: [email protected]
- Full name of the account holder: MIGUEL ANGEL GONZALVEZ LOPEZ
- Country: SPAIN
- City: MADRID
- Address: Calle Solana 1
- Postal code: 28830
- IBAN: ES52 0182 1294 1602 0386 8988

This is obviously a scam. The link to the place is also no longer available. Please be careful out there and I hope no one else makes the same mistake I did.

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Hello!
I was just scammed by this people as well. Same month. I just had a question, were you able to retrieve your money ?

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There is an account on AirBnB that has been scamming people. They have been sending unsuspecting people to our home when they book a rental. The people show up confused and this has happened twice this month. We have looked at the email the scammer sent and it is indeed our address. The scammer host phone number is disconnected but this is it: (510) 682-0126 We are not renting our home and never have. We live in the Oakland Hills of thr California Bay Area.

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- New York, NY, USA
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ALERT TO PEOPLE LOOKING TO MOVE TO SF- There are a lot of scammers.

This situation mirrors ScamPulse.com's 2017 post on Airbnb Scammers (***

*** *** ** *** *** *** ** *** *** *** *** *** *** ** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***Here is an example of the messages:

------

Hello again,

Nice to hear back from you. All sounds good and i feel that we are ready to proceed. You should know that i want to use Airbnb services in order to book, inspect and sign the lease. They will be in charge of everything and the entire transaction will be done thru them, so we are both safe and secure. The reason why i am doing like this, is that we dont live in the US anymore and we really need to rent this property for long term. My daughter used to live there but now we are relocating in Spain and we no longer need it. Please send me your full name so i can contact Airbnb and initiate the transaction and they will get in touch with you with necessary steps and instructions you need to follow in order to check the property and sign the lease. Rent price is $1,000 with all utilities included.

I look forward to get your reply.

Regards,

Jose Luis

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

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Hello again,

At this moment i dont have it listed on Airbnb, but if you are interested, Airbnb will send you a notification and you can see the listing with pictures and description on Airbnb website. Also on the notification, you will receive the steps on how you need to proceed in order to book the apartment. Everything will be thru them, including the payment and sign of the rental contract.

Please send me your full name, phone number, the date when you want to enter in the apartment, how many people would live there and for how long.

Looking forward to receive your email.

Jose Luis

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

--------

Hello,

I just did set up the reservation for you on the Airbnb website, so please follow the steps to complete the booking process. If you already have an Airbnb account, please use it in order to log in or create an account with Airbnb.

Please check your inbox, junk or spam folder of your email address since Airbnb will send you a notification as well.

Please use the following link in order to access the Airbnb reservation:

http://airbnb.com.listings-***

*** If you have any questions, on the reservation link, you will find the Airbnb Chat service and you can talk with an Airbnb representative.

Let me know,

Jose Luis

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

---------

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He said his name was Jose Luis Salcedo.

When. He first texted me, he didn't even know the locations address for where I was interested in. I played along but then it got more suspicious. He said his daughter used to live there and he's the owner but it's a single apartment in a maybe 5unit building. Just didn't add up. The link he sent looks real and he says you can chat live with someone for help but I'm sure that's just him. The website is fake and all the links on it lead back to the same page.

This is the email he sent me. He only ever got my name, email and number.

"Nice to hear back from you. All sounds good and i feel that we are ready to proceed. You should know that i want to use Airbnb services in order to book, inspect and sign the lease. They will be in charge of everything and the entire transaction will be done thru them, so we are both safe and secure. The reason why i am doing like this, is that we dont live in the US anymore and we really need to rent this property for long term. My daughter used to live there but now we are relocating in Spain and we no longer need it. Please send me your full name so i can contact Airbnb and initiate the transaction and they will get in touch with you with necessary steps and instructions you need to follow in order to check the property and sign the lease. Rent price is $1,000 with all utilities included.

I look forward to get your reply."

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- Brooklyn, NY, USA
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I've been looking for apartments online and I seen one located in NJ I messages the person about them renting their apartment. they told me because of them living in Canada I can set up reservations to see the place thru Airbnb. I was sent a link (looks exactly like Airbnb official website) and was even talking to someone whom mad it seems as if they were an agent working for Airbnb." we've gone back in forth for 5days setting the process for me to view the apartment."I've given you that link for live chat information and the email. I've contacted the real Airbnb to make sure they've received my information and everything was set. that's when I was informed that I was scammed and I did not send the 1075.00 to them it was a fake Airbnb website. now I've contacted my bank to inform them I was scammed and the balance of 3.65 that was on my card was also taking off. I used my whole paycheck assuming I was really going to view an apartment and that I was moving. no money or anything, I have nothing now. This action took place 10/16/2018. Please get back to me ASAP!!!!!!!

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- Colorado Springs, CO, USA
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Found this apartment for rent on Craigslist. Listed as a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment at First & Main Apartments. 1000-1200sqft, but the posting doesn’t say that. Listed as being available for rent for $600/mo including all utilities and junk. Normally these apartments are available for $1000-$1200. Craigslist posting 6699574456 says to email [email protected] if interested. Received email from Edward Avery at [email protected], says he moved to Texas to train new employees, that he owns the apartment, and he is looking to rent it completely furnished for $600/mo. He asks for a copy of your drivers license. Then he says to look for an email from Airbnb regarding the rental. Received email from Jasmine Hinds at [email protected]. Says you are renting the space at $600/mo, $1320 for move in total. Says you can only pay in bitcoin and you have to bring cash to one of two ATMs in town and transfer to random account via bitcoin.

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I've been looking for a new rental home for the past month I got onto the app Zillow and Trulia to look for options I found a two bedroom two bath in Los Angeles California with the address of 1100 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles California for $1,250. I sent my my renters resume through the app Trulia and Zillow which is required in order to contact the one who's in charge of the property. I finally received a email stating if I was still interested in the home I replied to a so-called call Lissa Collen. Through the email she notified me that I would be in contact with an agent from Airbnb and that all payments will go through Airbnb. I confirmed that I was interested in the home so she confirmed to Airbnb she explained that there would have to be a security down payment to make it official for the rental agreement once that would be done I would see the rental and if I was not satisfied my money would be refunded through my agent from Airbnb. Since I've heard of Airbnb and I know a few people that go through them I figured it was okay once the agent called and contacted me we spoke exchanged information and did a transaction once the transaction was made I couldn't contact him no more I called the company and they claimed that it was all a scam that there is nothing in there files that says I have made such agreements with them I gave them a confirmation number I gave them the name of Lissa Collen and they denied such information on their database I asked them how is it possible do that their company and agents do such a thing I looked into the address more and it comes out in many websites zumper,Zillow ,Trulia and Airbnb stating there was a rental going through all four companys. I did a transaction as I was told I am literally at the end of my contract for the home I'm in right now and I am forced to move out as well as my partner now we paid 1250 u.s. dollars to receive a keys and a phone call from one of your agents and it backfired not only did we lose the money because it was a scam but now we're on the streets homeless until we save up to get another spot I don't understand how it is possible to use someone's website or company name to scam others for their money and not do nothing about it. Contact information links to your website. When i called Airbnb to confirm my payment they finnally said it was a scam how is it ok to continue allowing this to happen to socal clients of airbnb or Trulia Zillow and Zumper. Families work hard to earn money and for it to be taken like that and end up in the streets isnt fair i am a victim and i need my money back to afford a home

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- Milwaukee, WI, USA
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Listing was found on Zillow, Trulia, and Hotpads, but were all removed. I contacted him through Zillow and he emailed me. We messeged each other and I asked for him to send me a link to view the apartment again as I had forgotten, or to email me pictures. He then stated it was on Airbnb abd sent a link. I immediately tried to manually search for his airbnb listing on my own and found a lady with the exact posting (pictures, title, etc). I called airbnb and they confirmed it was a fake. Be cautious.

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- Elmwood Park, NJ, USA
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I was emailed by a scammer presenting himself as the host of an Airbnb property I expressed interest in renting. He emailed info and links to the rental listing, and created separate email posing as the Airbnb company. The scammer was in thorough email communications, sending info about the property and answering many questions. He sent fake reservation confirmations, invoices, payment instructions, and payment confirmations. He coerced me into creating an account to purchase and pay the security deposit via bitcoin. After paying the security deposit, I received Airbnb receipts and then was unable to contact the host or confirm the reservation with the actual Airbnb company.

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I was contacted by a "Sgt. Thomas Mitchell" regarding an apartment he advertised on Craigslist. Shortly after contacting him at "[email protected]" regarding the apartment details, I was contacted by a "Jeff Wood", claiming to be with Customer Service at Airbnb. I thought that "Sgt. Mitchell" was advertising on both Craigslist and Airbnb to rent the apartment out faster. Anyway, "Jeff Wood" contacted me from the "[email protected]" e-mail address, not a real Airbnb e-mail address as I found out later. "Mr. Wood" told me that I should send $ through MoneyGram to a "Mr. George Bates", attorney for Airbnb, if I wanted to reserve the apartment. I was told that after I did this, I would be given a confirmation number with all of the details. However, after I sent the money, I haven't heard anything back from any of these three individuals. I confirmed, through MoneyGram, that a "Mr. George Bates" did indeed pick up the money that I sent to a Walmart store with an address of  Michigan Avenue, in Canton, MI. 48188. The MoneyGram reference number is . "Mr. Wood" also gave me an address for "Mr. Bates" at  Griswold St., in Detroit, MI. 48226. So far, I've reported this fraud to Craigslist (which has removed the original apartment posting), Airbnb, MoneyGram, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the FTC (reference number ), the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and the local Beltsville Police Department. The Beltsville, MD. police report case # is

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I was contacted by a "Sgt. Thomas Mitchell" regarding an apartment he advertised on Craigslist. Shortly after contacting him at "[email protected]" regarding the apartment details, I was contacted by a "Jeff Wood", claiming to be with Customer Service at Airbnb. I thought that "Sgt. Mitchell" was advertising on both Craigslist and Airbnb to rent the apartment out faster. Anyway, "Jeff Wood" contacted me from the "[email protected]" e-mail address, not a real Airbnb e-mail address as I found out later. "Mr. Wood" told me that I should send $1400 through MoneyGram to a "Mr. George Bates", attorney for Airbnb, if I wanted to reserve the apartment. I was told that after I did this, I would be given a confirmation number with all of the details. However, after I sent the money, I haven't heard anything back from any of these three individuals. I confirmed, through MoneyGram, that a "Mr. George Bates" did indeed pick up the money that I sent to a Walmart store with an address of 4xxx Michigan Avenue, in Canton, MI. 48188. The MoneyGram reference number is . "Mr. Wood" also gave me an address for "Mr. Bates" at  Griswold St., in Detroit, MI. 48226. So far, I've reported this fraud to Craigslist (which has removed the original apartment posting), Airbnb, MoneyGram, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the FTC the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and the local Beltsville Police Department. The Beltsville, MD. police report case # is .

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- Charlottesville, VA, USA
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I think I was recently involved in a scam from a Chinese airbnb host. It seems that someone created a fake host account, hacked into my account, and booked a trip to their location. I went sent a random email entirely in Chinese that I thought was a mistake until I had a random bill for an 11 night stay somewhere in China that I definitely did not book. When I messaged the host to resolve the dispute they responded in Chinese. Luckily I was able to stop payment on the $546 fee and get all my money back. This seems like a likely scam, so watch out!

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- Thayer, MO, USA
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Was asked to transfer funds to a bank account in Mexico. When that would not go through was asked to complete the deposit through Western Union. Received an email from the property owner that the payment was invalid and must be resent. After checking with Western Union the money was transferred without an problem.

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