Don't rush when accepting last minute or emergency CouchRequests.

Most last minute CouchRequests are legitimate. However, sometimes a scammer will try to use a sob story -- stolen backpacks! lost passports! -- to push people into accepting their request so they can rob them. No matter how urgent, consider every request with the same care as you would in a normal situation. Never host a member if you can't read their profile first, and always read each profile thoroughly. See this article for information on what to look for in a profile. 

• Tip: If someone says that their things have been lost or stolen, offer to meet them and help them file a police report. If the story is true, your help will be very useful -- and if it's not, chances are the attempted scammer won't want to go anywhere near a police station.