Complaints to Australian regulator about sharing economy triple
Complaints about the sharing economy, including sites such as Airbnb, to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) Scamwatch have tripled in 2016. According to the watchdog, more than 150 reports were filed and more than AUD80,000 ($59,909) lost. ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said customers needed to be vigilant when booking online, and use only "official on-site payment methods supported by Airbnb". Rickard also urged users to ensure the "URL, website or email address" were legitimate.
Where people go, scammers follow, so it's no surprise to find the sharing economy being targeted.

Australia's consumer watchdog issued a notice Monday, warning holiday-goers that scams relating to accommodation booking sites such as Airbnb are on the rise.

In fact, complaints about sharing economy cheats to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) Scamwatch have tripled since 2015.

In 2016, there were more than 150 reports and A$80,000 reported lost, compared to A$65,000 last year.

ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard warned in a statement that scammers have a number of methods: They are likely to direct consumers away from the Airbnb site to make transactions, or create fake versions of the online platform as well as scam emails to steal personal information.

"When you go to book a break, scammers direct you away from the site and ask you to pay them directly using money orders or wire transfer services such as Western Union and MoneyGram," she said.

"Some reports indicate that scammers create very convincing fake versions of the site which they can use to collect personal details and banking information."

Rickard advised using only official on-site payment methods supported by Airbnb, as well as checking the "URL, website or email address" are legitimate.

Airbnb Australia country manager Sam McDonagh told Mashable in a statement the company was pleased to work with the ACCC on the issue.

"Problems are incredibly rare," he said. "The bottom line is when you book a reservation through our secure platform, you receive the benefits of Airbnb's global trust and safety team and the forty safety features that kick in long before a transaction can take even place."

Airbnb recently expanded its platform beyond short stay accommodation.

Launched in November, Trips allows Airbnb users to both offer and book local experiences, as well as create curated city guides.

"These aren't tours: you immerse, you join the local communities," Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said at the company's annual Airbnb Open conference in Los Angeles.

Trips hasn't yet launched across Australia, although people in Sydney(opens in a new tab) can request to offer their experiences, such as yoga retreats, on Trips.

Yet another place to keep an eye on your credit card details.