Airbnb warns Miami World Cup fans about booking scams. Here's what to know

With five more World Cup matches set for Hard Rock Stadium, including one on Wednesday, Airbnb is cautioning soccer fans traveling to Miami about a surge in online booking scams. The company says travelers can lose thousands of dollars to fake listings during high-demand events.

FULL STORY: Are you being scammed in booking a stay for the Miami World Cup? What Airbnb says

Here are key takeaways:

• Scams are costly and common: According to market research company Ipsos, about 4 in 10 Americans have been scammed while booking places to stay online, with average losses of nearly $2,000. Five percent of travelers reported losing over $10,000.
• Airbnb is blocking suspicious listings: Roger Kaiser, vice president of Airbnb Fraud and Safety Operations, said the company’s anti-fraud systems blocked more than 250,000 suspicious listings last year before they went live, and a new feature cut clicks on risky links by more than 20%.
• Stay on the platform: Airbnb recommends booking, paying and communicating through its website, where every booking includes protections such as rebooking options and possible refunds if a host cancels last minute or misrepresents a property.
• Watch for red flags: Airbnb urges travelers to read reviews, question unusual details and be wary of unrealistic pricing and countdown timers that pressure quick decisions, especially in high-demand FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities.
• Use safe payment methods: Pay by credit card and never by wire transfer, cryptocurrency or gift cards. Airbnb also recommends unique passwords and multi-factor authentication to protect accounts.

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.