Realizing the risks affecting Indian travelers in particular, Airbnb took action against continually threatening online booking scams and signed up with the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI).
The connection follows a fresh consumer poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of Airbnb that indicated Gen Z and Millennials are the most vulnerable generation to booking scams. These scams cost the victims an average of ₹1,02,233, showing the high level of consumer jeopardy.
The study highlights that due to the growing cost of living, the significance of looking for deals is escalating. Many Indian travelers confessed they would not be as selective while choosing a vacation destination to save money.
More than half of the respondents said they have engaged in risky behavior, including responding to what looked like a too-good-to-be-true offer.
To solve these issues, Airbnb uses significant actions, such as special teams and tools to prevent scams, in-app notifications to warn users, and schemes to protect guests.
Airbnb’s General Manager, Amanpreet Bajaj, stated that the traveller should stick to the Airbnb platform and only interact, book, or pay through the proper channels that are secure.
In collaboration with IAFCI, Airbnb has also given some helpful hints for tourists to show them how they can not be duped by complicated online scams like online real estate scams and others by verifying the URL, using a credit card, and reporting the case to the management immediately.
In this relation, the goal is the actualization of the protection of Indian consumers so that they have a veritable assurance that their bookings are unadulterated.
