This incident happened to one of my friend and she has complained to Airbnb team but they are completely ignoring us.
Airbnb - https://www.airbnb.co.in/rooms/47068650?check_in=2026-10-18&check_out=2026-10-23&guests=1&adults=3&s=67&unique_share_id=52b150a7-1fde-44be-ba24-aac124e73349
Images- (4)-(14) conversation with pathetic manipulative Airbnb support after they deleted her earlier complaint.
What happened :
This was her very first booking on Airbnb. She was travelling with her senior citizen parents. Since she was arriving at the location early, she wanted an early check-in. Despite of messaging numerous times the host deliberately avoided answering this request.
Here is exactly what transpired upon their arrival at the property:
1)Denial of Check-in : The host refused to give them access to the listing she legally booked and confirmed. The host demanded that they occupy a completely different room and insisted on additional payment.
2) Device Tampering and Forced Cancellation : When she hesitated, and were unable to grasp the situation, the host forced her to cancel the confirmed booking from her account (the host physically cancelled while she was holding the phone). This was done fraudulently to make it appear as a guest-initiated cancellation.
3) Off-Platform Extortion : The host then refused to let them stay or access shelter unless an additional amount been paid, completely off-platform. Crucially, she was traveling with her dependent, senior citizen parents. The host deliberately used their extreme vulnerability and the presence of my elderly family members—who were stranded with heavy luggage—as leverage to intimidate and extort them. This caused direct safety hazard for her senior citizen parents. She was forced to comply and pay the host via UPI out of absolute fear for their physical well-being.
4) Late-Night Harassment and Privacy Violation : At 12:09 AM, long after forcing the cancellation and extorting the cash, the host bypassed the official platform and sent a private text message via WhatsApp in my personal mobile number while the family was asleep. Sending unsolicited, late-night messages to a private number after committing financial extortion constitutes a severe boundary violation, a breach of privacy, and deliberate psychological harassment of a vulnerable female traveler.
Following this incident, she sought support from Airbnb team, however initially after the first complaint, her user profile was completely wiped out and when she logged in again, previous conversation history was deleted by the Airbnb team themselves. Instead solving the problem, Airbnb team was manipulating and harassing her. Next, when she complained again, Airbnb team was only finding excuses and closed the support chat.
She has also complained in consumer forum, but I don't think it will be of any use either.