$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Airbnb bait-and-switch property scam
Guests book an appealing property on Airbnb but upon arrival, the host claims an issue and moves them to a significantly inferior property with no refund option.
“rental scam”
↑ 274%Key indicators
Usually targetsTravelers
Often hitsReal estate professionals and homebuyers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$1.2K
median reported loss
Typical range$240 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~10%
Annual reports43,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers list an attractive property to generate bookings, then contact guests shortly before arrival claiming a plumbing issue, flooding, or other emergency.
2
They offer to relocate the guest to a nearby property they manage, which is significantly lower quality than what was booked.
3
If the guest complains, the host offers a partial refund that is far less than the difference in property quality.
What to do first
Contact Airbnb support immediately if a host tries to relocate you — do not accept a switch without Airbnb's involvement.
Related terms
Airbnb property swaplisting bait-and-switchAirbnb downgrade scamRental scamsAirbnbRisingTravelersTouristsFamiliesReal estate professionals and homebuyersTravelersParents and familiesUnited StatesUnited KingdomFranceAirbnb property swaplisting bait-and-switch
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Ahmed, 35, a travelers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate rental scams situation while using Airbnb. Scammers list an attractive property to generate bookings, then contact guests shortly before arrival claiming a plumbing issue, flooding, or other emergency.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They offer to relocate the guest to a nearby property they manage, which is significantly lower quality than what was booked.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: If the guest complains, the host offers a partial refund that is far less than the difference in property quality.
The outcome
Ahmed realized something was wrong when host contacts you shortly before check-in claiming a maintenance issue and offers to move you to a 'comparable' property. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Contact Airbnb support immediately if a host tries to relocate you — do not accept a switch without Airbnb's involvement. Ahmed's experience shows why host contacts you shortly before check-in claiming a maintenance issue and offers to move you to a 'comparable' property and the replacement property is noticeably inferior to what was originally booked are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Host contacts you shortly before check-in claiming a maintenance issue and offers to move you to a 'comparable' property
- The replacement property is noticeably inferior to what was originally booked
- Host pressures you to accept the change quickly and discourages you from contacting Airbnb
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Contact Airbnb support immediately if a host tries to relocate you — do not accept a switch without Airbnb's involvement.
- ✓Request a full refund through Airbnb's resolution center if the provided property does not match what was booked.
- ✓Document everything — take photos and screenshots of all communications with the host.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- Airbnb's own community forums and consumer advocacy sites document widespread reports of bait-and-switch practices, prompting Airbnb to strengthen its listing accuracy policies.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Contact Airbnb support immediately if a host tries to relocate you — do not accept a switch without Airbnb's involvement.
- ✓Request a full refund through Airbnb's resolution center if the provided property does not match what was booked.
- ✓Document everything — take photos and screenshots of all communications with the host.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
Airbnb's own community forums and consumer advocacy sites document widespread reports of bait-and-switch practices, prompting Airbnb to strengthen its listing accuracy policies.
OpenScam research
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Travelers, Tourists, Families
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, France, Mexico
Primary channel
Airbnb — Rental scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Travelers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Airbnb's own community forums and consumer advocacy sites document widespread reports of bait-and-switch practices, prompting Airbnb to strengthen its listing accuracy policies.
Source notes
- OpenScam research
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about airbnb bait-and-switch property scam
How does the airbnb bait-and-switch property scam work?+
Scammers list an attractive property to generate bookings, then contact guests shortly before arrival claiming a plumbing issue, flooding, or other emergency. They offer to relocate the guest to a nearby property they manage, which is significantly lower quality than what was booked. If the guest complains, the host offers a partial refund that is far less than the difference in property quality.
What are the warning signs of airbnb bait-and-switch property scam?+
Host contacts you shortly before check-in claiming a maintenance issue and offers to move you to a 'comparable' property The replacement property is noticeably inferior to what was originally booked Host pressures you to accept the change quickly and discourages you from contacting Airbnb
What should I do if I encounter airbnb bait-and-switch property scam?+
Contact Airbnb support immediately if a host tries to relocate you — do not accept a switch without Airbnb's involvement. Request a full refund through Airbnb's resolution center if the provided property does not match what was booked. Document everything — take photos and screenshots of all communications with the host.
Who is most at risk for airbnb bait-and-switch property scam?+
This scam primarily targets Travelers, Tourists, Families. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, France, Mexico and typically appears on Airbnb.
Is airbnb bait-and-switch property scam on the rise?+
Airbnb bait-and-switch property scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, UK, FR, MX. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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