This is how the Airbnb coupon scam works: This is what the host asks to trick you.

Technology changes the way we do things, and going on vacation is no different. If in the past it was just a matter of arriving at the hotel or hostel in the town where you were spending your summer and asking for an available room, today everything is done through a platform, and you go to accommodations managed by individuals instead of booking a room.

This is thanks to services like Airbnb, which connect tourists with available homes for rent anywhere in the world. Last year alone, during the three summer months, more than 3,700 locations received reservations through this platform.

Similar or even higher numbers are expected this year, and such a large influx and visits to this website do not go unnoticed by cybercriminals, who waste no opportunity to carry out their scams and thefts.

Despite the platform's strengthening of its fraud detection and user protection systems, cybercriminals are still finding ways to get away with it, causing scams on this app to increase in recent years.

Many times it is the user's own fault, who does not follow the platform's instructions and falls into the trap of scammers, as happens, for example, with the coupon scam.

Airbnb has a series of rules and regulations you must follow to avoid these types of issues, and one of the areas where these issues often arise is paying for the rental property. The company is quite clear on this matter : all payments must always be made within the app , and the total price includes all fees associated with the transaction.

However, many users either aren't familiar with these rules or don't remember them, because, according to Airbnb, the coupon scam has become very popular in recent years. This involves receiving a message from someone offering to book and pay for an Airbnb stay through a third-party website or service, often under the guise of a coupon or discount for the platform.

And since we always look for the most cost-effective and affordable options, we go and pay the person through another means. And even if you do get to enjoy that house, these reservations are often paid for with stolen credit cards , which can lead to a lot of legal trouble if the person reports it, as the police will track the card transactions and link us to the theft.

In these cases, if a host or other person writes to you and asks you to make the payment through a platform other than Airbnb, you should ignore them and insist on doing so through official channels . Then , report this person to the platform so they know what's happening and can intervene to prevent further scams of this type.