CAMPOBASSO – From the State Police and Airbnb, advice on how to avoid online scams, with Marco Camisani Calzolari as testimonial, to book your holidays safely.
The phenomenon of online scams continues to grow. Despite being digitally native generations, surprisingly, those who are most often victims of these phenomena, from credit card fraud to phishing, are Gen Z and Millennials and not seniors. This is what emerges from the evidence of the State Police and Airbnb who, on the eve of summer and holiday bookings, have renewed their collaboration to help citizens recognize and avoid malicious people online. The testimonial for the campaign is Marco Camisani Calzolari, who already collaborates with the State Police on the topic of online scams.
The identikit of the victim
According to the 2023 Report on the activities of the Postal Police and Cyber Security, last year there was a considerable increase in online scam attempts in Italy, with a growth in these crimes of 6% from 2022 to 2023 and a consequent increase of the money stolen, which went from 114 million euros to 137 million (+20%). However, 2,500 phishing sites have been identified and blocked by Airbnb in the last 12 months alone. Even though they were born and raised in the digital age, new generations are less careful when it comes to online security. According to Consumerismo, 1 in 5 Italians declares having suffered at least one scam while shopping online, a percentage that rises to 33.1% in the 25-34 age group: this means that 1 in 3 young people has fallen into the “traps”. ” of e-commerce. Italy is no exception compared to Europe, as highlighted by Airbnb’s investigations.
Valentina Reino, Institutional relations manager of Airbnb Italia, declared: “We are in the middle of the booking period; this initiative aims to help people understand what warning signs to look for and good practices to adopt. When it comes to booking on Airbnb, we encourage our guests to communicate, book and pay only on the platform, where transactions are secure and they can also count on AirCover, our insurance program to protect hosts and guests. In fact, the vast majority of deception attempts take place outside our site.”
Massimo Bruno, Chief of the State Police and director of the financial cybercrime division of the Postal Police and Cybersecurity Service declared:
“In recent years, there has been a constant increase in the sector of financial crimes committed online; in 2023 alone, the Postal Police handled over 16,000 cases, including those related to the booking of holiday homes, packages and travel tickets. Although most scams are carried out outside of travel booking platforms, we also see significant evidence in this sector, especially during peak periods for holiday planning. These are types of scams that, with adequate and constant awareness-raising efforts among users, can be recognised and avoided, and the Postal Police is fully committed to this. For this reason, we appreciate and renew our collaboration with Airbnb in the prevention of such crimes.”
How to avoid online scams: advice
- Check the website address. Whether you use a computer or a smartphone, it is best to check that you are booking through the official platform. The solution is to use the Airbnb app or go directly to the website to make sure you are on the official website (www.airbnb.it).
- Don’t click on unknown links. Relaxed use of social media can contribute to exposing users to the risk of scams. If you are not sure whether a message or post is from a recognized company, do not share or interact with it or click on any links therein. Airbnb provides guidelines on how to identify an authentic link or email from the platform.
- Be wary of overly good deals or deposit requests. With the cost of living rising, many consumers are looking for great deals; but if a deal or listing seems too good to be true, it could be a scam. In this case, it is advisable to take your time to examine the details of the listing and existing reviews, especially if there is a rush for payment.
- Never pay by bank transfer. This is a payment method not allowed by Airbnb. It is better to use a credit card, which offers more protection. If you are asked to pay for a trip by bank transfer, cryptocurrencies or gift cards, it is very likely a scam.
- Book, pay and communicate only on the platform. Some users may be attracted by the proposal to deal privately outside the portal to save money. However, this does not allow you to take advantage of Airbnb guarantees, which does not recognize payments made by guests until 24 hours after check-in, while AirCover for guests provides protection for some possible eventualities.
- Check reviews. Reading other guests’ opinions is useful to get a better idea before booking, by checking the ratings and reviews and carefully reading the listing description. You can also ask the host questions via messaging on the platform before blocking your dates.
- Communicate with the host. Once you have booked, before you travel, it is best to contact the host to make arrangements for your arrival and to check for any particularly important needs. If you do not receive a response, contact customer service immediately.
- How to report a concern the right way. On Airbnb, users can report controversial messages directly from internal messaging, while suspicious cases can be reported via a flag on each listing. If you have made a payment off-site, you should immediately contact customer support, which is available 24/7.
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