Mumbai: Engineering student pays online for house in Spain, loses ₹78K

Mumbai city news: The woman, an Andheri resident, has completed her engineering course and wants to go to Spain for higher studies

A 22-year-old engineering student, who logged on to Airbnb website to rent a room in Spain, was cheated of Rs78,000 by a cyberfraudster who tricked her into paying through private payment medium.

Earlier this month she approached the local police station and lodged a first information report (FIR) against the unidentified cyber fraudster. (For representation)

The woman, an Andheri resident, has completed her engineering course and wants to go to Spain for higher studies.

She was looking for accommodation and got to know about Airbnb.

Earlier this month she approached the local police station and lodged a first information report (FIR) against the unidentified cyber fraudster.

On June 12, she saw an advertisement and clicked on a link which offered a reasonable place in Spain on rent.

She spoke with the owner, who asked for a booking amount in Euros equivalent to Rs78,000.

The owner asked her to deposit amount to a private account which she did on June 13.

Later, when she tried contacting the person, there was no response.

On June 15, she wrote to Airbnb and learnt that she had been cheated.

The Guardian in May 2017 and The Telegraph in 2015 have published reports of how people have been cheated through the same modus operandi by cyberfraudsters, who ask the guests to make payment to a private account.

The Airbnb informs guests that money needs to be paid only through their payment service. As part of this service, they do not pay the owner until the day the guest moves in to the rented place.