Travelers are getting better at spotting obvious scams' but experts warn Airbnb scams are on the rise as summer arrives

Date:
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:05:00 +0000

Description:
As summer travel peaks, experts warn of Airbnb scams exploiting verified host accounts to trick users into fake vacations.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Airbnb scams have surged 30x since 2023, including a sharp rise this year Criminals hijack legitimate host accounts to to trick holidaymakers Staying safe isn't so straightforward as threats evolve Airbnb-related scam activity has increased 30x since the first half of 2023, according to new research from Saily and NordStellar,
confirming that cybercriminals continue to go after holidaymakers seeking the best deals amid rising prices.

The report ultimately concludes that attackers are now targeting the trust built by larger platforms, saving them from having to build new identities from scratch. And to top it all off, the nature of scams is also changing, as instead of using suspicious websites to obtain victim payments or
information, criminals are now targeting legitimate Airbnb host accounts
which have spent years amassing positive reviews and high ratings. Latest Videos From Watch full video here: Exploiting legitimate accounts and hijacking trust While the end goal remains high volumes of vulnerable consumers, scammers have added an extra layer of victim in their pipeline. Verified Airbnb hosts are now valuable assets for criminals because they already have identity verifications, positive reviews, booking histories, years of activity and established credibility.

Once the verified account is compromised, attackers can then go on to scam higher volumes of unsuspecting victims by posting and charging for fake property listings. You may like Hackers are launching more phishing scams and attacks at holidaymakers than ever before 5 scams you need to be aware of
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of AI-boosted scam campaigns that can trick even the smartest victims

Travelers are getting better at spotting obvious scams, Saily Head of Product Matas Cenys said. Criminals know this, so they are increasingly trying to steal trust instead of building fake trust from scratch.

Where this type of attack differs from others, though, is that the victims never leave the platform. Rather than falling victim to phishing attacks and being redirected to malicious external sites, they interact fully with supposed legitimate hosts on the Airbnb platform. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

While Airbnb attacks have seen a 30x increase in around three years and a sharp rise in the last year alone, they reflect a much broader trend of attackers compromising existing trusted accounts.

The recent ramp-up in attacks could also be tied to the summer season, with holidaymakers looking to book last-minute deals in the run-up to the summer season. Urgency and pressure to keep costs low also adds to criminals
success.

Everything looks normal until they arrive at their destination and discover the accommodation never existed," Cenys added. What to read next New study warns over half of Americans hit by fraud in 2025 'A foundational block of modern cybercrime': The inside story of a 15,000+ website network using popular ad trackers to peddle AI investment scams Hackers target LinkedIn accounts with devious new phishing attack How to protect yourself from
booking scams Saily is recommending that all communication stays within the booking platform and that customers avoid payment methods suggested outside
of official channels. Unusually attractive listings in high-demand destinations could also be taken with a pinch of salt, and savvy shoppers may choose to reverse image search a property to double check its authenticity.

As travel booking becomes increasingly digital, trust becomes one of the most valuable currencies in the travel ecosystem, Cenys warned.

As for abusing victim trust, researchers also argue that AI has aided attacks by allowing criminals to produce better fake listings more quickly.

More generally, Airbnb revealed that two in five Americans have fallen victim for an online scam, with the average loss totalling nearly $2,000. The
company has introduced measures to remind its users how to avoid scams, including introducing identity verification and reminders not to leave the platform, but account takeovers can still slip under the radar.

Airbnb also holds guest payments until 24 hours after check-in to ensure that everything is as described. Anti-fraud tech also prevented around 265,000 suspicious listings from appearing on the platform in 2025, the company boasted.

The company posted a comprehensive eight-step list of how to avoid scams on its platform online, calling out pressure tactics and unusual deals. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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