Airbnb Fraudulent Charge — Company Refused Refund Request
On January 16, 2026, an unauthorized transaction of $161 was charged to my credit card with the description “AIRBNB*HMFJN9YEC4 lond.” I did not approve this payment in any way, and no reservation was made in my name related to this charge.
On the same day I noticed the transaction, January 16, 2026, I immediately reported the issue and canceled my Ziraat Bank credit card for security reasons. Despite this, the amount was still reflected as a debt on my credit card statement, and I was forced to pay it.
I reported the situation to Airbnb both by phone and through official email, explaining the matter in detail. However, Airbnb rejected my refund request without providing any valid reservation proof. Instead, they incorrectly claimed that the charge was made by someone I know, without presenting any concrete evidence. In their response dated January 18, 2026, they ignored the fact that I had already disputed the charge and canceled my card due to security concerns, and they completely overlooked the clear signs of unauthorized use and a potential security breach.
I do not accept Airbnb’s approach of placing responsibility on the customer for a transaction that was neither authorized nor verified. I am considering filing a criminal complaint with the relevant Turkish authorities and initiating a formal case with the Consumer Arbitration Committee.
Before pursuing these legal options, I request that the $161 unauthorized charge be refunded to me in full and immediately, since it was a transaction that I neither approved nor made.
