Screen shot of message I was sent. Have any of you received messages like this?
Just some jerk looking for places to co-host, rudely forcing you to reply within 24 hrs.
If I got a message like that, I would reply āI do not appreciate you spamming my inquiry inbox. Itās a very rude way to try to get co-hosting jobsā, and report them.
As itās an inquiry message, ignore the pre-approval/decline.
Thanks Muddy, I had no clue and I will report this.
So this person used a booking inquiry in order to send you this message?
Did they do that to put additional pressure on the host instead of using the message button on the hostās profile?
Iām surprised that in this day and age, Airbnb cannot even set up a bot to filter out such scammy messages made through a booking inquiry which are obviously fake.
Definitely report this person.
Iām pretty sure there isnāt an option to just send a general message to a host. It is automatically turned into an enquiry with some dates attached and a 24 hr response deadlineā¦
Just an ad. Ignore.
ā¦
Huh, I just figured that out. I always just saw the message button but never used it.
Really? Itās spam. At least we can help provide some data to Airbnb to let them know in which way their messaging system is abused.
I wouldnāt count on having such messages filtered out by next week but at least it would end up on the developersā desk for future updates.
If no one reports these things, itāll turn into an even worse scammy place as it already is.
Yes the message was sent as an inquiry with the date March of 2026. I sent her a message that Muddy suggested, and reported her to Airbnb. I asked Airbnb to block her and deal with it. I told the girl to F#$% off, suck rocks, and get a real job. Yaā¦childish, but it made me feel better.
If the person sending you a fake inquiry is willing to go against the rules in this instance, then you can be sure they are going to be willing to ignore YOUR rules or boundaries - and for me, I will never do business with folks who try to ābendā the system.
I noticed several posts on the Airbnb Community forum lately from people claiming to be co-hosts, because they took a āco-host courseā, which sounds like all these online āAirbnb gurusā who offer to teach you how to āoptimize your listingā for $XX.
These posters have zero experience hosting or co-hosting, yet call themselves co-hosts because they took some course, which is like calling yourself a plumber because you took some basic plumbing course.
They all seem to think hosts need a virtual assistant, and that they can co-host anywhere in the world, when the online stuff is actually the easiest for hosts to handle, and if they want a co-host, itās boots-on-the-ground help they are looking for.
I wonder if the āgurusā who give these courses tell the participants to use the Message Host button to try to drum up business, sending what reads like a generic template they give the course participants.
It looked genuine to me. The time limit was so you donāt get penalised by Airbnb for not replying on time. A simple no thanks would perhaps have been better.
Regardless of whether it is genuine, itās rude to use an inquiry to try to solicit business.
Iām not sure there is a specific rule anywhere about not using an inquiry message to try to solicit business, but if this person is looking for co-hosting jobs, yet is unaware that it is annoying to hosts, or it never enters their head that it would be, to get inquiry messages that are not related to a booking, they are too clueless to even consider as a co-host.
Itās like the posts I see on other hosting forums- " Iām interested in doing Airbnb and becoming a co-host. How do I find properties to co-host?"
As if co-hosting is something that requires zero experience and hosts are going to let them āpracticeā on their properties.
Can you imagine someone posting āHi, Iām interested in becoming a plumber. Where can I find homes where I can practice ripping the plumbing apart and trying to put it back together?ā
Airbnb prohibits spamming.
Prohibited Activities:
- Unsolicited advertising or promotional materials:
The Terms of Service prohibit using Airbnb to send unsolicited advertising or promotional materials to other users.
- Mass messaging or sending spam:
Users are not allowed to send unsolicited or unwanted messages to other users, including mass messaging or spamming.
- Spamming or using the platform to solicit users for other services:
The Terms of Service prohibits using the platform to engage in any activity that could be construed as spam, including soliciting users for other services or promotions.
- Misrepresenting yourself or your listing:
Users must not misrepresent their identity or the details of their listing, including providing false or misleading information.
- Creating fake accounts or using multiple accounts to bypass restrictions:
The Terms of Service prohibits creating fake accounts or using multiple accounts to bypass restrictions or spam other users.
Content and User Conduct:
- Prohibited content:
Users are not allowed to post content that is spam, offensive, or violates the platformās policies.
- User Conduct:
The Terms of Service requires users to act in good faith and respect other users. This includes refraining from engaging in any behavior that could be construed as spam, harassment, or abuse.
- Reporting Violations:
Airbnb provides mechanisms for users to report violations of the Terms of Service, including spam-related behavior.
Consequences of Violating the Terms of Service:
- Account suspension or termination:
Airbnb may suspend or terminate the accounts of users who violate the Terms of Service, including those who engage in spamming or other prohibited activities.
- Legal action:
Airbnb may take legal action against users who violate the Terms of Service or engage in illegal or fraudulent activities.
- Other sanctions:
Airbnb may impose other sanctions, such as removing content or restricting access to the platform, for violations of the Terms of Service.
How to Report Spam:
- Report suspicious messages:
Airbnb provides a mechanism for reporting suspicious messages, which may include spam.
- Report fraudulent listings:
Users can report fraudulent listings that are using spammy tactics to attract bookings.
- Provide evidence:
When reporting violations, users should provide evidence, such as screenshots of messages or photos of the property, to support their claim.
By addressing these issues through its Terms of Service, Airbnb aims to create a safe and positive experience for all users.
The platform fails to implement even the most basic moderation measure - filtering full names in reviews - despite the fact that such a filter is technically trivial to put in place. As a result, users are allowed to post private information that remains publicly accessible unless the affected party takes the initiative to file a complaint. This reactive model suggests the company may prefer to address issues manually, relying on customer service representatives who often appear unprofessional and insufficiently trained. These representatives tend to make arbitrary, unsubstantiated decisions while invoking terms of service they themselves may not fully understand.
Exactly, I canāt fathom how such big companies do not have one person in the top management who embraces new technologies and applies them in order to make their business more efficient. It would mean lower costs and less hiccups.
Maybe they need to burn money for no reason by employing more unsuited reps for some other reasons.
I would like less bot activity, rather than more. I would prefer to decide whether I view something as spam, rather than some bot deciding it is.
They canāt even get the algorithms they already have in place right. Iāve read so many posts from guests and hosts who are unable to book or accept a booking because the āpartyā algo blocks it. The criteria for that block was supposed to be:
Under 25
Local
One night booking
Entire home
Yet hosts have said repeat bookers they would be happy to accept back have been trying to book and get that block, young couples with kids (for whom a private room listing would of course be unsuitable), young guests who travel a lot and have lots of 5* reviews, people who arenāt local, etc.
@Rolf I know all that stuff is in the policies and TOS, but those co-hosts, āinfluencersā and such who use inquiries to try to drum up business or get a free stay would say āIt isnāt spam- Iām just trying to help hosts outā. 
Weāve seen exactly that bs here on the forum when some newbie poster spams here about something they are trying to monetize and gets called out or their post removed.
I completely understand your perspective, @muddyā¦ Imagine how remarkable the system could be if you personally took charge of educating and vetting those cohorts of CS beginners who are remotely employed, especially when HR struggles to verify their backgrounds. You donāt deal with them being a SH. Butās so easy to fall from SH podium, you have only to refuse paying cash to a scammer, outside Airbnb. Thereās a limit to everything. Iāve already spent weeks of my work hours dealing with unscheduled phone calls from CS, often for no reason - just empty conversation, and evaluating them at the end of the call. It feels as though weāre providing education and evaluation services for free.