Prospective short let tenants have been warned by Airbnb not to be fooled by scammers using Artificial Intelligence to “airbrush” properties, improving their appearance online.

Research from Airbnb and Get Safe Online found that the average amount lost to fraud is now £1,937.

The lettings platform fears tenants are falling for AI-style scams after a study found that nearly two thirds were unable to differentiate AI-generated images from the genuine article. 

Scams related to booking holidays and associated items like accommodation constitute 24% of fraud cases in the UK along with credit card fraud (31%) and phishing scams (26%). Surprisingly, it is digitally native 18 to 34 year-olds that admit to being scammed more than any other age group. 

Airbnb claims it has a range of safeguards in place to protect stays booked on Airbnb such as secure payment processes. Airbnb encourages tenants to report suspicious websites or phishing emails to it for investigation, working with third parties to report them for further action. In 2024, Airbnb detected and mitigated more than 3,200 third party phishing domains globally.

The short lets platform says that the desire to secure a bargain may lead tenants to make riskier decisions when making purchases – leaving them more vulnerable to scams. This is particularly true for 18 to 34-year-olds, who have been scammed more than any other age group.

The platform has given these tips to tenants to avoid scams:

• Never click on unexpected links – Fraudulent links and attachments in emails and texts are intended to take you to sites designed to look like a real company website, but can trick individuals into revealing personal information such as passwords and credit card numbers. Use the Airbnb app or go directly to the website (www.airbnb.co.uk) to help ensure you’re on the legitimate company website.

• Always report suspected scams – If you believe you may have encountered a fraudster or experienced a scam, you should report it to the police. The Get Safe Online website also has information on how to check for certain scams. 

• Be wary of unusually cheap deals or high deposits – If a deal or offer sounds too good to be true, such as those advertised on social media, or you’re being pressured to make a decision quickly, it could be a scammer and it’s best to end all communication immediately. 

• Do not pay for holidays or accommodation by direct bank transfer – Airbnb protects guests by handling all communications and payments through its secure platform only. If anyone asks you to leave the Airbnb platform to communicate, book, or pay, you should decline and report it to Airbnb immediately.

• Use trusted platforms to book, pay and communicate – Stays should always be booked and paid for only on trusted platforms like Airbnb, to take advantage of secure processes and refund policies. On Airbnb, every booking comes with AirCover, meaning if there’s a serious issue with your Airbnb that your host can’t resolve, Airbnb will help you find a similar place or give you a refund. 

• Use a different password for each online account and add two factor or multi-factor authentication – If you use the same login information for different accounts there’s a higher risk that your details might be compromised online, leading scammers to access and take over your online accounts. Airbnb offers multi-factor authentication, meaning users can provide more than one way to verify their identity to access their account, strengthening security and reducing the risk of account takeovers by scammers.

Amanda Cupples, General Manager of UK & Northern Europe for Airbnb, says: “As people look to plan their Easter break, holidaymakers should remain vigilant when browsing for their trips. New technologies are fast emerging and using trusted platforms to book, pay and communicate is the best way to beat potential fraudsters. We have safeguards in place to protect stays booked on Airbnb, including secure payment processes.”