Airbnb to Buy Background-Check Startup Trooly to Root Out Scams

  • Home-rental company struggled to control fraudulent listings
  • Deal comes at pivotal moment for Airbnb, which is expanding
Photographer: JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images
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Airbnb Inc. is purchasing background-check startup Trooly Inc. in an effort to protect its guests and hosts from bad actors.

Los Altos, California-based Trooly has been helping Airbnb authenticate user identities since 2015. By analyzing data from public records, social media and other sources, Trooly’s technology could help Airbnb track various customer violations, such as side deals between guests and hosts.