Scam Airbnb websites: Be aware when looking for accommodation

Police in Germany recently warned of fradulent websites that look like Airbnb and offer holiday apartments at unbeatable rates. — Friso Gentsch/dpa

You've found a holiday apartment in a central location at a great price. But what looks like an unbeatable offer could be an attempt at fraud. Fraudulent websites that look like Airbnb have been springing up, warn German police, but there are ways to unmask them.

An example: A woman posted an apartment search in eBay's classified ads and received an email with what looked like an amazing offer. She was asked to register on a fake website based on the Airbnb rental marketplace. After registering, she was asked to pay a deposit. Upon closer inspection, the woman suspected fraud and informed the police.