AirBNB scam apt in Milan
 

tried to book a nice looking 2-bedroom apartment thru AirBNB, it was about half the price of similar places in the same area in Milan, but the listing was new so I thought the owner was trying to get some business starting out. She had put her email address on some of the photos, and once I replied, she wanted to send payment by bank transfer directly to her account in Germany. My bells were going off about this being a scam, and sure enough, her replies had phony AirBNB stuff on ... so I sent copies of all to AirBNB, but no reply yet.
If you get this happening while trying to book, step away. Only pay thru AirBNB since with their service fee they guarantee your rental, not by sending money directly to owners.

The apartment's name in Milan was "Charming 2 rooms apartment in Brera".

First time poster, signed up just for this, no details about how "replies had phony AirBNB stuff on" = lack of reliability.

Who is more suspucious the AirBnB person or this poster.

To be fair this doesn't sound an unreasonable complaint. The OP is drawing attention to what is potentially a fake listing - it's certainly in contravention of the rules if the hosts private email is visible on photos, even if the apartment is genuine. OP then cites the correct way of using the site safely, rather than slagging the whole concept of Airbnb off, which makes a refreshing change from some of the threads we see here.

Why do people always malign first time posters? If I had a scam problem, I might seek out travel websites to post about iot also, you get pretty mad about stuff like that and want to complain.

Of course bottom line, is no one should ever not use AirBnB's rules about payment or deal direclty with owners when you aren't supposed to, nor wire money.

good advice only to pay through Airbnb if you are using them, and not get sucked in by a "nice" owner.

I agree with RM67. The responses are also telling, the first 2 unpleasant for no good reason that I can discern. Just habit, I suppose. Too bad.

Personally, and this is just an opinion on my part, but this post sounds like it is coming from a competitor in the Milan area where this place has "encroached" on the other places who have higher prices.

Assuming the information given is true, nanabee's opinion is impossible as the owner's full name isn't given until after the apartment is booked through the site and communication is through the site. The fact that she has a name and email address is proof that the listing is a scam and I think the post is perfectly honest & legitimate.

I would question why has not the OP not contacted the website. Either via the help service or Facebook or even twitter.

<<Why do people always malign first time posters? If I had a scam problem, I might seek out travel websites to post about iot also, you get pretty mad about stuff like that and want to complain.>>

This isn't a confirmed scam - it just smelled bad to the poster. They were not actually taken. So it could be that the OP just libeled the apartment owner.

Is it fishy? Yeah, like a Norwegian menu. But not proven.

This is the listing:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6623982

You can see the gmail address on some of the photos.
The OP said she had contacted AirBnB and sent copies of her correspondence with the person offering the apartment. There has been no response from AirBnB and the listing is still on their site.

Any listing on the site that provides an email address and asks for payment directly, rather than through the site, is a confirmed scam by definition, defined by the rules of the site. I see no room for doubt.

Did you contact thru AirBnB? Or did you email her directly to the gmail account on photos?

Googling her name came up with someone with that exact name in Argentina. Her profile on ABnB says she from US; and she wants the money sent to Germany???

Given the description of the exchange, it would have to have been direct. New users of Airbnb can be tricked by the alternate contact information shown, while experienced users would smell the rat immediately. No site is completely immune from crooks, as we all know. It might, in fact, be an apartment actually available or it might be nonexistent, there's no way to know unless they succeed in getting money deposited directly and the renter showing up. They could even appeal to a renter wanting to circumvent Airbnb's booking fee, very silly but I don't doubt they're out there, willing to risk a lot to save a little.

I think it is wrong to put up the e-mail of an individual on a public message board, maybe especially if you are accusing them of wrongdoing with no proof, but under any circumstances. I've "triangles" it for removal.

There are many benign explanations why someone living in Argentina or having a back account in Germany would have an apartment to rent in Milan. I agree with every single poster who has reitierated that AirBnb has a clear payment policy and it should be followed.

I think it is wrong to put up the e-mail of an individual on a public message board, maybe especially if you are accusing them of wrongdoing with no proof, but under any circumstances. I've "triangles" it for removal.

There are many benign explanations why someone living in Argentina or having a back account in Germany would have an apartment to rent in Milan. I agree with every single poster who has reitierated that AirBnb has a clear payment policy and it should be followed.

If the person who listed the apartment requested payment by direct wire transfer, there can be no legitimate reason for that. Besides, she advertises her email address on the apartment listing photos, so it's no violation of her privacy to post it.

I don't join witch hunts. Putting up the e-mail of a private individual based on collective suspicion doesn't cut it. Wrong. This person did not lose their privacy rights because of the mentality of this crowd.

Fodor's can decide if they have any legal vulnerability.