“For the summer season, PSP has partnered with Airbnb to raise awareness of fraud and keep people safe online when booking vacations. While tourists are looking for a good deal, fraudsters can trick people into paying by bank transfer through fake but convincing advertisements, websites and phone calls,” the police said in a statement.

PSP and Airbnb shared guidelines on how to detect fraudsters to help ensure the safety of Portuguese people when booking their holidays and the police call on all citizens who book holidays to “never click on unexpected 'links'”, and should learn how to detect fake emails, websites, texts and posts on social networks so that they “be wary of unusually cheap offers or high deposits” and to pay by credit card and avoid making bank transfers.

“When using Airbnb specifically, you must remain on the platform to book, pay and communicate, and stays must always be booked and paid for only on the platform to take advantage of Airbnb's secure processes, refunds and support policies. If someone asks you to leave the platform, you must immediately notify Airbnb”, says the PSP statement.