Airbnb has partnered with the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI) to help consumers book safely online and avoid travel scams. This comes after consumer research from DKC Analytics and YouGov.
The consumer research from DKC Analytics shows almost half of Americans (47%) have fallen for a scam, with victims losing on average $2,697 and 1 in 5 (18%) losing $5,000 or more.
The consumer research from YouGov shows Gen Z and Millennials are the most likely to admit to having fallen for a scam with victims losing on average ₹⟩1,02,233.
The consumer researches, which were commissioned by Airbnb, also uncovers that amid rising costs of living, finding deals has become increasingly important to most consumers and this is prompting booking behaviour that could lead them to fall for a scam online. Close to half of Americans say they’re less vigilant about booking vacations if they think they’re saving money, while over a third would take a risk to save money, even if they think a deal is too good to be true.
As online scams become more sophisticated with the advent of technology like AI, fraudsters may try to take advantage of those searching for a travel deal by using fake websites, texts and emails or social media to trick people into believing they’re booking with a legitimate company. As part of our trust efforts, Airbnb works to tackle third-party attempts to exploit our brand, and we ask users to report suspicious websites or emails to us for investigation. In 12 months, our dedicated team detected and mitigated almost 2,500 third-party phishing domains globally.
Tara Bunch, Airbnb’s Global Head of Operations, said, “As travellers book their vacations, we want to help them know what to look for and red flags to avoid. When it comes to booking on Airbnb, we encourage our guests to only communicate, book and pay on the platform, where we have secure processes and support like Aircover in place to help protect against scams and ensure issues are rare.”
Amanpreet Bajaj, General Manager for Airbnb India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said, “We want to ensure Indian travellers know what to look for when booking travel and the red flags to avoid. When it comes to booking on Airbnb, we encourage our guests to only communicate, book and pay on the platform, where we have secure processes and support like Aircover in place to help protect against scams and ensure issues are rare.”
Missy Coyne, International 1st Vice President at IAFCI, said, “Don’t let scammers get away with stealing what you’ve worked so hard towards. When in doubt, talk it out. If what they are asking you to do doesn’t make sense or seems too good to be true, talk to a trusted friend or family member before acting on the request.”
