Is it a scam if an Airbnb or Vrbo host asks me to pay outside the app?

Yes. A host who asks you to “save on fees” by paying via Zelle, wire, or a personal payment link outside the platform is running the off-platform booking scam — the listing is often stolen from a real property, the “discount” disappears once you've paid, and neither Airbnb's nor Vrbo's guarantee covers payments made outside their checkout. Always complete payment inside the official app, and treat any pressure to move the conversation to text or email before paying as the clearest warning sign.

Educational verdict from documented scam patterns — not a live report. For a 0–100 risk score on the exact link in your hand, run the checker.