Accommodation Scams in Edinburgh

Festival Season Airbnb Bait-and-Switch

During August's Edinburgh Festival and Fringe, fraudulent short-term rental listings appear on booking platforms showing attractive flats in the Old Town or near the Meadows at below-market prices. After the deposit is paid — often requested outside the platform via bank transfer — the host cancels last-minute or the property does not exist, leaving visitors stranded during the highest-demand week of the year when alternative accommodation is nearly impossible to find. Losses typically range from £200 to £800.