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| Airbnb will verify listings, 11 years after launch | Airbnb will verify listings, 11 years after launch |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Airbnb says it will verify every single property on its platform after a news website found a series of scams. | Airbnb says it will verify every single property on its platform after a news website found a series of scams. |
| In October, Vice News uncovered a pattern of false or misleading property listings posted on the rentals site. | In October, Vice News uncovered a pattern of false or misleading property listings posted on the rentals site. |
| Airbnb said it would review every property by December 2020, and also promised to refund customers if they were misled by inaccurate listings. | Airbnb said it would review every property by December 2020, and also promised to refund customers if they were misled by inaccurate listings. |
| It is the first time Airbnb, which launched in 2008, has pledged to verify every home promoted on its platform. | |
| During its investigation, Vice News spoke to several people who had booked accommodation on Airbnb and been scammed. | During its investigation, Vice News spoke to several people who had booked accommodation on Airbnb and been scammed. |
| When the guests arrived for their holiday, they typically received a last-minute phone call from the landlord saying the property was no longer available, due to an emergency or double-booking. | When the guests arrived for their holiday, they typically received a last-minute phone call from the landlord saying the property was no longer available, due to an emergency or double-booking. |
| They would then be moved to another property, often in a different area and without the amenities promised in the original booking. | They would then be moved to another property, often in a different area and without the amenities promised in the original booking. |
| In many cases the guests felt they had no option but to stay at least one night, after arriving late at night in a city far from home. | In many cases the guests felt they had no option but to stay at least one night, after arriving late at night in a city far from home. |
| But they say Airbnb then refused to give them a full refund despite the misleading bookings. | But they say Airbnb then refused to give them a full refund despite the misleading bookings. |
| In a series of tweets, Airbnb chief executive Brian Chesky said: "Airbnb is in the business of trust. We are making the most significant steps in designing trust on our platform since our original design in 2008." | In a series of tweets, Airbnb chief executive Brian Chesky said: "Airbnb is in the business of trust. We are making the most significant steps in designing trust on our platform since our original design in 2008." |
| He pledged: | He pledged: |
| On 2 November, the platform said it would ban "party houses" after a mass shooting at a California home rented through the company left five people dead. | On 2 November, the platform said it would ban "party houses" after a mass shooting at a California home rented through the company left five people dead. |
| And in 2017, it changed its security policy, after a BBC investigation found criminals were hijacking accounts and burgling homes. | And in 2017, it changed its security policy, after a BBC investigation found criminals were hijacking accounts and burgling homes. |