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I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

vice.com

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Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#61

Post by giarc »

astura wrote: post #45
g_sch wrote: post #23

Does this article really contain a referral link for "overstock.com barstools"? I'm not sure if I should be appalled that they inserted an ad into a journalistic piece, or respect them for doing it despite how negative the reference is.

I chuckled at that... It's almost certainly an automatically algorithmically generated link inserted by the publisher.

You are likely correct, it's probably Vice doing that not the author. Reddit tried it for a bit. They had software that would automatically transform relevant retail links into referral links. They stopped the practice as it wasn't making as much money as they thought it would.

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#62

Post by astura »

ceejayoz wrote: post #33

I wonder why AirBnB doesn't pay people Uber-style to inspect properties. $5-10 to go to an address and check that it can be accessed and matches the photos as an unannounced spot check? Send someone out on first listing, periodically, and every time a host cancels for a "maintenance issue" to verify the claim.

Verifying listings is not a hard problem, Airbnb literally just doesn't want to, it takes a "we are just a middle man, hosts are responsible for their listings" approach. This is what makes them money, I don't think an Airbnb with only verified legal listings would be very profitable.

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#64

Post by zschuessler »

I hit a variation of this scam. I wasn't baited on a different space, but the listing was heavily misleading. I even had roommates even though the listing didn't state it!

The listing had 5 stars because of a network of shill accounts leaving fake reviews. Additionally, there is no penalty for deleting a listing and recreating it when the fake 5-star status runs out.

I contacted Airbnb about the shill account network, and the scam, and they didn't do anything about it. Although I got a refund, I wasted 3 hours of my life trying to get into a locked apartment that had my things in it before a plane took off. The shill accounts still exist.

Haven't used Airbnb since. I might gamble for a chic destination listing for fun, but never again for casual/business use.

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#65

Post by dan-robertson »

joezydeco wrote: post #56
bluetidepro wrote: post #20

Mentioned this in another comment, but it blows my mind that the author ends with: > "Even after a month of digging through public records, scouring the internet for clues, repeatedly calling Airbnb and confronting the man who called himself Patrick, I can’t say I’ll be leaving the platform, either. Dealing with Airbnb’s easily exploitable and occasionally crazy-making system is still just a bit cheaper than renting…

Even after a >>>month of digging through public records...Dealing with Airbnb’s easily exploitable and occasionally crazy-making system is still just a bit cheaper than renting a hotel." It's constantly amazing to see how little people value their time when it comes to stuff like this. Maybe when we're getting yearly salaries we don't compute out the hourly cost but, man, do the math once in a while.

That time got converted into this article for which the author was presumably paid. And I would guess that the author didn’t spend the entire month on only this one thing. But maybe that’s wrong

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#66

Post by yrro »

ben1040 wrote: post #37
kop316 wrote: post #2

I'll ask the dumb question (I don't use AirBnB): why not dispute the charge via a credit card?

Airbnb terms of service says you authorize them to collect the money from you, even if there are chargebacks, and they'll turn it over to third party collections. https://www.airbnb.com/terms/payments_terms?hide_nav=true Also there's a binding arbitration clause there too just for good measure.

For me this page redirects me to airbnb.co.uk and the relevant portion of the agreement (Payment Authorizations) says:

> In addition to any amount due as outlined above, if there are delinquent amounts or chargebacks associated with your Payment Method, you may be charged fees that are incidental to our collection of these delinquent amounts and chargebacks. Such fees or charges may include collection fees, convenience fees or other third-party charges.

I'd be interested to see how the wording varies between jurisdictions.

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#67

Post by RcouF1uZ4gsC »

joezydeco wrote: post #56
bluetidepro wrote: post #20

Mentioned this in another comment, but it blows my mind that the author ends with: > "Even after a month of digging through public records, scouring the internet for clues, repeatedly calling Airbnb and confronting the man who called himself Patrick, I can’t say I’ll be leaving the platform, either. Dealing with Airbnb’s easily exploitable and occasionally crazy-making system is still just a bit cheaper than renting…

Even after a >>>month of digging through public records...Dealing with Airbnb’s easily exploitable and occasionally crazy-making system is still just a bit cheaper than renting a hotel." It's constantly amazing to see how little people value their time when it comes to stuff like this. Maybe when we're getting yearly salaries we don't compute out the hourly cost but, man, do the math once in a while.

> Maybe when we're getting yearly salaries we don't compute out the hourly cost but, man, do the math once in a while.

The math to get an approximate hourly rate from a yearly salary is really easy:

Just divide yearly salary by 2000. Thus if you make 100,000 a year, your hourly rate is approximately 50.

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#68

Post by imglorp »

chadlavi wrote: post #21

There are also some smaller-time scams hosts run. I was forced to pay a three-figure cleaning fee by an AirBnB in DC earlier this year because they claimed I left a stain on their couch -- which I never even sat on (also, I was by myself, so it's not as though another one of my guests did something to it). I appealed and asked for photos of the supposed stain, but they ghosted me and in the end AirBnB ruled in their…

My kid had exactly the same thing happen. The host was local and attentive, but after the visit, they attempted to stick the guests for huge bill for a water ring in the finish on a wooden kitchen table that was already there when they checked in. This was not fine furniture, just generic 90's poly'd oak or veneer. The host was claiming the table needed to be replaced so the charge was high three figures. I'm not sure what the resolution was but the guests fought it.

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#69

Post by giarc »

It's always interesting to see scammers at work. The nature of scammers, atleast the ones that get caught, put in 95% effort, and it's that last 5% that gets them caught.

In this case, imagine if instead of trash furniture and minimal decor in the "switch" property of "bait and switch" they put in half decent stuff. Renters would probably all accept the story of a plumber and move on. Instead, they fill the property with crappy furniture and leave unhappy customers. They could have gotten away with it.

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#70

Post by SpencerBratman »

chadlavi wrote: post #21

There are also some smaller-time scams hosts run. I was forced to pay a three-figure cleaning fee by an AirBnB in DC earlier this year because they claimed I left a stain on their couch -- which I never even sat on (also, I was by myself, so it's not as though another one of my guests did something to it). I appealed and asked for photos of the supposed stain, but they ghosted me and in the end AirBnB ruled in their…

That's really unfair, and I definitely think you should've got your money back. However, looking at it from a business standpoint, it's more expensive for them to lose a host than to lose a customer. So that's why I'm guessing you got the short end of the stick.
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