FAKE ACCOUNT Archives

Travel fakes like this are on the uptick in 2025. Criminals are using artificial intelligence to create fake websites, listings and social media profiles designed to separate you from your money.

How to protect yourself from travel fakes

January 12, 2025 by Christopher Elliott

Travel fakes like this are on the uptick in 2025. Criminals are using artificial intelligence to create fake websites, listings and social media profiles designed to separate you from your money.

Justin Brog was abruptly banned from Airbnb and all his upcoming reservations canceled, accused of falsifying his Airbnb account identity, though he claimed innocence. His appeals were quickly denied. It turned out someone had created a fake Airbnb account impersonating Brog, likely triggering Airbnb’s automated security systems to deactivate his real account. After contact from our advocacy team questioning the ban, Airbnb reinstated Brog upon realizing their mistake. But with largely automated customer service, could false bans of Airbnb accounts happen more easily? The system seems prone to abuse or error without sufficient human oversight.

The secret of disabled Airbnb accounts: Is it sabotage?

May 20, 2024February 5, 2024 by Christopher Elliott

Why is Justin Brog banned from Airbnb? He’s been a model guest and receives excellent reviews from Airbnb hosts, so there’s no reason Airbnb would disable his account.

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