How To Avoid Airbnb's 'Bait And Switch' Scam
By Jenna Busch
VACATIONS
Travelers beware of an Airbnb scam where you are redirected to a different rental at the last minute or you find that the place you enter isn't what you booked.
You’re then directed to something "better" that actually isn't. You could be told it was a double booking, or that the address on the Airbnb website was wrong and sent elsewhere.
If this bait and switch happens to you, there are steps you can take, like contacting Airbnb right away, messaging the host, and taking pictures of everything to get it resolved.
You can contact the host and Airbnb to ask for a refund. File the complaint within 24 hours — Airbnb doesn't pay the hosts until 24 hours after the reservation begins.
The biggest piece of advice we can give you is to document everything. Before you book an Airbnb, it's really important to read all of the reviews and try to book with Superhosts.