Long-Term Airbnb Rentals - Guest Scams??

[Tracy Meyers]

Hello BP community,

I recently listed my home on Airbnb looking for a 30 day minimum rental. Seeing as this is an online platform I want to make sure that I don't approve any stays that are from a scam guest.

Has anyone renting on Airbnb (particularly 30+ days) encountered a situation similar to the following, and has the guest turned out to be illegitimate?

I received an inquiry from someone whose account was a few years old but didn't have a profile picture or any reviews and the only item verified was a phone number. They claimed to be from the United States but outside the mainland continent. When I asked some general questions such as how long they planned on staying and how many people would stay I didn't receive a reply.

 A few hours later I received an inquiry from someone else and the message had a completely different tone from the first but the questions I had asked the previous person were answered. Their account was also a few years old, didn't have a profile picture, didn't have any reviews, and only had phone number and email address verified. They also claim to be from off the mainland United States and from the same locale as the previous person.

I just find this an odd coincidence and am still willing to go through with a comprehensive tenant screen but I'm wondering if this is a known scam that exists on Airbnb?

For the record I'm also doing full tenant screening (income, credit, and background verification) prior to approving anyone.

Thanks in advance for any insight or information.

[Michael Baum]

Hey @Tracy Meyers, yes I get about 10 of these a year spread between AirBNB and VRBO. We have a minimum stay of 3 days.

I get messages like this - "Hi, me and 3 other insert job here, engineer, fisherman etc have been working for weeks straight and our company is giving us a vacation. Is you place available for the dates listed?"

I usually reply, yes it is. Then they get back to me in about 10 days or so asking if I can take a company check as that is the only way they can pay for it. I tell them I work through the booking system and that is it. Then they go away.

They are getting more sophisticated. The last one came in a few days ago. Family looking to book, but they want the exact address so they can "take a look at it". Like the photos on the sites aren't enough. I tell them nope.

Wait for the guy who will do a custom painting of your house for a 2 weeks stay. He is a self described famous artist....he has been doing it for years now. The paintings suck...