Accommodation Scams in Paris, France
Fake listings, bait-and-switch hotels, ghost rentals, and check-in fraud. Below are the accommodation scams scams reported in Paris — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Hamburg, Marseille, and Munich.
Last updated: April 7, 2026
1
Accommodation Scams Scams
15
Total in Paris
How it works
Fraudulent short-term rental listings mimicking legitimate Airbnb, Booking.com, or VRBO pages lure tourists into paying for Paris apartments that do not exist or are not authorised for rental. Victims are asked to pay via bank transfer or a lookalike payment page, bypassing the platform. Incidents surged during the 2024 Paris Olympics and continue into 2025-2026, with reports of tourists arriving to find wrong addresses, non-existent buildings, or landlords who deny all knowledge of a booking. Travel and Tour World, Fortune, and TripAdvisor forums all document this pattern in Paris specifically.
See all scams in Paris
15 total warnings across all categories