Already paid in full, now a text says a $39 'protection fee' is required?

Scam. Hidden fees make everyone suspicious of their bill, so a "required" fee sounds plausible. Every real fee shows up in your booking total. If it's not there, it's not owed. Think you'd spot it every time? Take the 10-message scam-or-real quiz: https://ratesbyroom.com/scam-quiz/?utm_source=dailymotion&utm_medium=short&utm_campaign=goc-40773-protection-fee