July is upon us and for millions of people it is now holiday time. But if you are about to book one, be careful, because often, behind some sites there are a series of scams.
From credit card fraud to phishing on social media, according to the data, the most at risk are the very young, despite being digitally native generations. This is what emerges from the data collected by the 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 of the campaign is Marco Camisani Calzolari, who has been collaborating with the State Police for some time on the topic of online scams.
According to the 2023 Report on the activities of the Postal Police and Cyber Security, last year in Italy there was a notable increase in online scam attempts, with a growth in these crimes of 6% compared to 2022. This increase consequently led to an increase in the money stolen, which went from 114 million euros to 137 million (+20%). 2,500 phishing sites were then identified and blocked by Airbnb in the last 12 months alone.
The new generations, strange but true, are the most affected by digital scams, as they are less attentive to their online activities. According to Consumerismo, one Italian in five claims to have suffered at least one scam while shopping online, a percentage that rises to 33.1% in the 25-34 age group. Therefore, one young person in three has fallen into the “traps” of e-commerce.
Even in the rest of Europe, however, there is no shortage of young victims of scams. As Airbnb surveys in the UK highlight, 18-34 year olds have been scammed more than any other age group and more than a third (34%) wouldn’t know who to turn to for help if they were scammed. In Spain, the majority of Baby Boomers (60%), Gen X (55%) and Millennials (56%) use a different password for each online account, while the percentage drops to half (50%) when considering Gen Z
In the Netherlands, nearly a third of 18-24 year-olds (31%) and 25-34 year-olds (33%) are willing to pay for their holidays with a bank transfer, a less secure payment method, compared to just 14% of 55-64 year-olds and 14% of over-65s. In France, nearly a quarter (23%) of users would use a social network to pay for or book holiday accommodation, a context in which scammers may target victims with offers that are too good to be true.
The data shows that millennials admit to being willing to make risky and impulsive purchases (even if they risk being scammed) if it means saving money. In this age group, in fact, people say they are more likely to make arrangements outside of reliable booking platforms, thus exposing themselves to significantly higher risks.
“We are in the middle of the booking period – explains Valentina Reino, Institutional Relations Manager of Airbnb Italia – this initiative aims to help people understand what the warning signs to be aware of and the 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, director of the Financial Cybercrime Division of the Postal Police and Cyber Security Service, calls for maximum attention: “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 thousand cases, including those linked to the booking of holiday homes, packages and travel tickets. Although the majority of scams occur outside of travel booking platforms, we also find significant evidence in this sector, especially during peak holiday planning periods. These are types of scams which, with adequate and constant awareness-raising among users, can be recognized and avoided, and the Postal Police is fully committed in this direction.
But how can you avoid online scams? Polizia di Stato and Airbnb have drawn up some tips to avoid problems:
1. 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);
2. Don’t click on unknown links. Lax use of social media can contribute to exposing users to the risk of scams. If you are not sure whether a message or post comes from a recognized company, do not share or interact with it and do not click on any links present;
3. Be wary of overly convenient offers or deposit requests. If an offer or ad seems too good to be true, it could be a scam;
4. never pay by bank transfer. This is a payment instrument not permitted by Airbnb. Better to use a credit card, which offers more protection. If you receive a request to pay for a trip via bank transfer, cryptocurrency or gift cards, it is most likely a scam;
5.book, pay and communicate only on the platform. Some users may be attracted by the proposal to negotiate privately outside the portal to save money. But this does not allow you to take advantage of Airbnb guarantees;
6. Check reviews before booking. You can also ask questions to the host via messaging on the platform before blocking dates;
7. communicate with the host. Once the reservation has been made, before setting off, it is preferable to contact the host to make arrangements for the arrival, and to verify any particularly important needs;
8.Report a concern: On Airbnb, users can report controversial messages directly from the internal messaging, while suspicious cases can be reported via a flag on each listing. If you have made a payment outside of the site, contact customer support immediately.
