Airbnb Nightmare: How a Double-Booking Scam Cost Me Over $6,000 and Days of Stress in Munich

Renting a place in Munich through Airbnb turned into a months-long ordeal that left me out of pocket and overwhelmed. It started on November 17, when I contacted a host named Martу (listing at Ainmillerstraße 32, Munich, Bayern 80801, Germany). I chose this location because it was perfect for my plans: close to my aikido dojo, nearby shops and cafes, and within walking distance to museums I intended to visit. The host confirmed a reservation from November 21 to December 19.

On November 21, I received a message from Marte explaining that he was double-booked and asking me to wait two days. He offered to cover my costs and compensate the inconvenience with an extra 250 euros. Since the spot was ideal for me, I agreed to wait and sought alternative accommodations in the meantime.

Then, on November 23, just half an hour before my check-in time, Marte texted that he no longer wanted to host. He claimed his other guests had a party, and neighbors were complaining. He canceled the reservation and promised a full refund. I sent him the invoice for the two nights I had to spend elsewhere and asked him to PayPal the agreed amount. After that, he stopped responding.

With a suitcase in hand and no place to stay, I relied on a friend for help and widened my search. Remarkably, another apartment became available in the same area—two blocks away—hosted by Milan at Hohenzollernstraße 86, Munich, Bayern 80796, Germany. I submitted a reservation request for November 23, and the host asked if I could move in one day later. I agreed, and, as with the first listing, the situation deteriorated. This time the excuse was that his housekeeper forgot the key, and we would need two days to obtain a second key. Again, an offer of compensation was made to make the arrangement seem reasonable.

Meanwhile, I was already in contact with Airbnb support about the first reservation. The support team claimed the host hadn’t canceled. When I compared the two listings, I discovered they both had new hosts with no reviews, nearly identical photos, and strikingly similar communication styles. I raised this with the support agent, who responded, “If you feel that this is a scam, it’s your discretion whether you cancel the reservation.” It’s important to note that canceling would mean losing all my money.

I contacted Airbnb by phone three times and eventually spoke with a representative who had to hear every message and retrace the events step by step to understand why I believed this was a scam. The guidance I received was discouraging and frustrating:
– Airbnb would contact the hosts, and they had “proof” it wasn’t a scam, but they couldn’t share details with me.
– If the hosts supported my claims, I might receive a refund for those two listings.
– The only viable option Airbnb offered was for me to find five alternative listings to rent.
– My additional expenses were deemed none of Airbnb’s concern.

I asked to speak with a supervisor. A few hours later, I was told my request had been filed and that a supervisor would contact me, which could take days or weeks.

In the end, I contacted Marte again and explained that if he didn’t rectify the situation, I would involve the police. He responded with a barrage of messages, even offering to host me again, and ended with threats to sue me to have me removed from the country. The harassment appeared to exploit my name, which sounded Russian, to intimidate me.

I had to secure a different, more expensive place in a different area to avoid further stress, all while working full-time and dealing with Airbnb support. The experience left me shocked and disappointed. I have long loved using Airbnb for its concept and convenience, and I’ve relied on it extensively. I’m left hoping the company can address this issue, provide proper compensation for the stress caused, and restore my faith in the platform.