Earlier this year, I booked a short trip to Florence, Italy. The plan was simple – good food for three days, peaceful mornings, and long walks through Tuscany. I saw a beautiful apartment on Airbnb, it had terraces and a balcony shining in the sun. The pictures looked stunning. Everything looked perfect.
But as I know now, things are not always as they seem in the photos.
This is where my story begins, when I fell victim to an Airbnb scam in Italy, and what I learned can save you from this mistake.
It all started with a “superhost”
The listing I came across seemed perfect. Over 30 great reviews, professional photos, and the price — not too cheap, not too expensive.
The host, “Marco,” answered my questions quickly and courteously.
After booking, he gave me a personal message:
“Duncan, there is a problem we are facing on our Airbnb system. If you give direct payment, then I can give you a 10% discount and can give you a big apartment.”
Usually, I don’t do this. But I have been booking travel myself for years, so I didn’t suspect anything. The new apartment he showed me was even better than the previous one.
He sent a PayPal link. I made the payment. And that was his last message.
When I reached Florence, there was no apartment
After I got off the flight, I didn’t get any response back from Marco. I even tried calling him, opened Airbnb again, but didn’t get anything.
When I reached the address which is given in the booking, the nearby shop owner said:
“Every week, someone comes here for this Airbnb – but there is no such apartment here.”
My heart sank. I realised I had been the victim all this time. And this Airbnb scam in Italy targets British tourists.
What Actually happened?
Later, when I called Airbnb support, I found that the booking I had done was a copy of a real listing.
Scammers usually create fake profiles by stealing the details and photos. Post fake reviews. Use convincing language, and then ask you to make the payment outside of Airbnb.
When I made the payment outside of Airbnb, all my privacy and protection were gone.
And the worst part is that this scam is still going on. In the summertime, when tourists go to visit Rome, Florence, or Venice, this is when Airbnb scams become most active in Italy.
How to know it’s an Airbnb scam?
When I look back now, I can say this was the sign:
- The host was asking for direct payment
- The photos seemed too perfect
- The host was trying to take the conversation outside of Airbnb
- Asking for a PayPal or bank transfer for payment
- The address was not given even after booking
- I trusted, but didn’t investigate, and that’s exactly what scammers want.
How to save yourself from such scams?
If you are traveling to Italy and you want to stay in Airbnb, then follow these safety measures.
- Never make a payment outside of Airbnb
- Do a reverse search of the images on Google
- Read the reviews carefully- if it looks fake or the same?
- Only communicate on Airbnb chat, not on WhatsApp or email.
- Ask for the full address before travelling.
A message from Duncan Paul Glasgow
I have written for years on scams and online security, but still I got scammed. It shows how smart today’s scammer has become, and a trusted platform like Airbnb can be targeted by these fraudsters.
Airbnb scam in Italy is very dangerous because it is hidden behind trust.
If this scam can happen to me, then anyone can get scammed.
Share this article with your friends, family, and other tourists. If you have faced any scam in any foreign nation, then share it with us in the comments. Your story can save someone from the scam.