Airbnb teams with fraud investigators on travel-scam prevention ahead of World Cup

As summer travel and FIFA World Cup 2026 bookings ramp up, Airbnb is using a trust-and-safety campaign to underline a familiar argument: that booking through established platforms is safer than the open web. For an industry where trust is a core differentiator, the framing is as much competitive as it is educational.

On June 17, Airbnb said it had partnered with the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI) to publish guidance on spotting and avoiding online travel scams "wherever they book."

The research

New consumer research from Ipsos, cited by Airbnb, found that around 42% of Americans have fallen victim to an online scam, losing an average of nearly $2,000, with 5% reporting losses above $10,000. About 62% believe AI-generated content is making scams harder to detect.

Notably, confidence did not track with accuracy: respondents aged 18–24 reported the highest confidence in identifying AI-generated content (60%) but only 27% correctly identified all AI-generated images shown, versus 46% of those aged 66 and older. Airbnb also flagged that travelers planning World Cup trips were more willing to use unfamiliar websites (18% vs. 7% overall) and bank transfers (24% vs. 12%) to save money.

The company said 46% of Americans cite being scammed as a primary concern when paying for accommodation online, and 66% would pay more for booking protections.

Airbnb's safety measures

Airbnb used the announcement to recap its own anti-fraud investments. It says it verifies guest and host identities, holds guest payments until 24 hours after check-in, and includes AirCover for guests on every booking. A message-thread feature that reminds users to keep payments and communication on-platform when external links are shared "cut user clicks on potentially risky links by more than 20 percent" after launch, and the company says its listing-screening technology prevented roughly 265,000 potentially suspicious listings from going live in 2025.

"Scammers don't limit themselves to one platform and neither can the response," said Roger Kaiser, Vice President of Airbnb Fraud and Safety Operations. "Teaming up with the IAFCI means travelers get practical, expert-backed guidance whether they're on Airbnb or booking anywhere else online."

The IAFCI's John Sabatino added: "Think before you click! Scammers count on you acting fast and emotionally."

The joint tips cover sticking to trusted platforms, reading reviews, checking links and payment pages, paying by credit card, questioning unusually cheap deals, watching for pressure tactics, securing accounts with strong passwords and MFA, and being wary of unexpected calls.