Question 1

What is the "Phishing Holiday Rental Sites Mimicking Airbnb and Booking.com" scam in Lyon?

Accepted Answer

Fraudulent websites cloned to resemble Airbnb, Booking.com, or Abritel advertise Lyon apartments at below-market rates, often targeting the Vieux-Lyon, Presqu'île, and Confluence neighbourhoods. Victims complete a payment process that appears legitimate but sends funds directly to scammers; the property does not exist or belongs to someone else. Reports from Connexion France and European consumer bodies document a surge in these fake rental portals targeting France specifically in 2024–2025, with losses averaging several hundred euros per victim. Book accommodation only through major platforms and verify the URL carefully before entering payment details — fraudulent sites often use subtle misspellings (e.g. airbnb-fr.com instead of airbnb.com). Never transfer money via bank wire or PayPal Friends & Family to secure a rental. If a deal is significantly below comparable rates, treat it as a red flag and search the property address independently.

Question 2

What is the "Online Romance and Advance-Fee Fraud Targeting Visitors" scam in Lyon?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. State Department's France travel advisory specifically flags romance and online friendship scams targeting visitors and expatriates in French cities including Lyon. Scammers build trust via dating apps or social media before the victim's trip, then request money transfers once the target is in Lyon — citing emergencies, missed flights, or business deals. A related advance-fee variant involves someone met locally who claims to need help exchanging currency or transferring funds, offering a reward that never materialises. Never transfer money to someone you have met online or very recently in person, regardless of how convincing the story is. Be sceptical of anyone who quickly moves conversation off a dating platform to WhatsApp or Telegram before meeting. If someone approaches you in Lyon with a currency exchange or money transfer story, decline and walk away — legitimate currency exchange is always done at official bureaux de change.

Online Scams in Lyon

Phishing Holiday Rental Sites Mimicking Airbnb and Booking.com

Online Romance and Advance-Fee Fraud Targeting Visitors

Experienced a scam here?