Airbnb / Booking Off-Platform Payment Chat Scam Examples
Fake hosts or guests on Airbnb and Booking.com ask you to pay or communicate outside the official platform, bypassing fraud protection and leaving you with no recourse.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Hi! I saw your enquiry. To hold the dates, please pay a deposit directly via bank transfer and I'll send the booking confirmation.
Thanks for booking! Unfortunately the platform has a technical issue — please send payment to this account and I'll mark it as paid: [bank details]
Please WhatsApp me on [number] to finalise — I can give you a 10% discount if we go direct.
To confirm your stay, I'll need a direct deposit to avoid platform fees. I'll send you a proper receipt once received.
What the scammer wants
To collect payment or personal details outside the platform's secure payment system, removing your right to a refund or dispute and leaving you with no property on arrival.
Red flags in the message
- Request to pay by direct bank transfer instead of through the platform
- Offer of a discount in exchange for going off-platform
- Urgency to secure dates before you can check the listing properly
- Communication moved to WhatsApp, email, or Telegram away from the platform
- New or thinly-reviewed profile for the property or host
A safe response
Decline any request to pay or communicate outside the official platform. All legitimate hosts and guests communicate and pay through Airbnb or Booking.com only. Report the request to the platform.
What not to send
- Direct bank transfers or wire payments
- Card details outside the official platform
- Personal identity documents
What to do if you already replied
- Contact the platform's fraud team immediately to report the listing and request a refund
- If you sent a bank transfer, contact your bank to attempt recall of funds
- Report to your national consumer protection authority
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot the full message or call details
- Note the sender number, email, or profile
- Save any links (without clicking) and payment details
- Record dates and times