Airbnb landlord warns of scams: "Old trick in new form"

Michiel Rosendahl Waldeck has been using the Airbnb platform for almost 10 years, and for the past few years he has been a landlord himself. Eighty-five percent of Michael's bookings come from foreign tourists, so when the corona crisis hit, he and many other hosts were hit hard.

- Many became desperate and accepted anyone, as long as they received a booking, Michiel says to SVT News.

Since the crisis began, Michiel has received suspected fraudulent emails every month. And he is not the only value marked by a change. In Swedish Facebook groups for landlords, several members talk about a new wave of fraudsters.

- You use a period when there is an extreme shortage of guests, says Michiel.

This is how Michiel describes the scam: You are contacted by a person who says that they will book the accommodation, but not live there. The cost must be borne by the person's employer, so if the host wants, the two can go behind the back of the employer and share the profit.

The booking is carried out, and the values ​​for according to the agreement over a part of the sum to the person. But the booking has been made with fake or stolen card details, and the host will be without his share of the winnings.

- I do not know anyone in Sweden who has gone on it, but I am in Facebook groups with hosts from other countries. There are people there who have been deceived, says Michiel.

Björn Seeth, crime inspector at the police's national fraud center, has not heard of these particular fraudsters - but he recognizes the tactics:

- It's an old trick in a new guise.

Seeth also reminds that it is the recipient who decides the conditions for what feels okay.

- Is it paid for too much money, goes outside the usual rules or gets into trouble? These are warning signs, he says.

The number of reported card frauds has decreased since 2019, and so far no one has reported the Airbnb fraudsters. But at the same time there is a low propensity to register.

- You feel that the inquiries are more like spam, says Seeth.

Airbnb replies in an email that they have not received any evidence that the number of fraudsters is increasing, but that they work closely with the police in several countries.