I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb • Hacker News Board

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#131

Post by Cthulhu_ » Thu, Oct 31, 2019, 3:59 PM UTC

Random business idea: AirBnB but with verified properties. Actually AirBnB can do that themselves easily enough, just hire people to check properties. Or hire secret guests, if the renter redirects the user to another property, withold payments / ban them from the site.

But quality is not in AirBnB's interest, apparently - being cheaper is. They get a cut from all financial transactions anyway. Once they're listed on the stock market the people currently running it can retire and it's no longer their problem.

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#132

Post by magashna » Thu, Oct 31, 2019, 4:01 PM UTC

giarc wrote: post #61

astura wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Also it's annoying to the user and I'm sure companies don't want links to be "look at these shit ass _overstock.com chairs_"

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#133

Post by astura » Thu, Oct 31, 2019, 4:01 PM UTC

baobabKoodaa wrote: post #93

jbverschoor wrote: post #59

Yeah, I stopped using Airbnb a loooooong time ago, and only use it when the price diff is something like 4 fold. Too many bad experiences. Yay booking.com and normal hotels

I have the opposite experience. After several bad experiences with hotels I 'm mostly using Airbnb. Fewer issues.

What sort of issues do you have at hotels that you don't have at Airbnbs?

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#134

Post by CharlesColeman » Thu, Oct 31, 2019, 4:03 PM UTC

btbuildem wrote: post #28

mattpavelle wrote: post #5

Why don't companies like AirBNB who have a lot to lose (reputation wise) from a (small?) number of scammers sue those scammers into oblivion? Not only are they violating the TOS but they are committing fraud, and likely breaking a few other laws. AirBNB must know who they are as those scammers are getting paid, right? It would be expensive for AirBNB (they would certainly lose money) but it can't cost more than the r…

They get a cut of whatever the scammers get away with.

> They get a cut of whatever the scammers get away with.

Negligently allowing fraud on your platform and taking a cut of the proceeds should make you an accomplice and get you criminally investigated.

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#135

Post by buckminster » Thu, Oct 31, 2019, 4:03 PM UTC

With nearly one hundred rentals this scammer must have been making some serious money. That's fraud on a grand scale in multiple states. Isn't that what the FBI is for? The journalist should make a report.

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#136

Post by eatbitseveryday » Thu, Oct 31, 2019, 4:03 PM UTC

How does this experience look when outside the USA? The article is only about travelers inside the country and most comments seem to be so, too. When my family travels, we usually leave the country.

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#137

Post by bonestamp2 » Thu, Oct 31, 2019, 4:05 PM UTC

imglorp wrote: post #68

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 sur…

Also avoid tiny rental car companies for this same reason. You'll find them listed on the major travel booking websites and they'll have names that you've never heard of. They often appear to be cheaper than the large rental companies, but they frequently have a chipped windshield or a tiny dent in a body panel.

Even if you point it out during the pre-rental walkaround, they won't mark it on the contract. That's the scam. Then when you return they charge you for a new windshield or a body panel/paint job, which of course they never actual have done because they want to scam the next person too.

Yes, you rented your car with your VISA and VISA will cover these charges eventually (takes about 3 months and you're on the hook for the charge for that time, and you'll never get the hours back that you spend sorting it all out).

You could say that you could just make sure all damage is marked before you sign the contract, and that's good advice at any rental agency, but it's still better to pay a little more up front to one of the major car rental companies who make their money on actually renting you a car instead of the company trying to find a way to scam you out of an additional $1000+.

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#138

Post by saturdaysaint » Thu, Oct 31, 2019, 4:05 PM UTC

julienchastang wrote: post #51

There have been a few threads about AirBnb lately with a lot of people reporting negative experiences so I will add my own $0.02. I have stayed in many AirBnbs. The reason is, I find it is the only way to have a tolerable family vacation is when everyone has their own sleeping quarters. When we are all piled into one (often overpriced and not so clean) hotel room, it makes for less than ideal sleep and everyone ends…

Funny, having young kids is what has sent me back to hotels (at least for the time being), simply because they are mostly designed with accessibility and some level of child-proofing. Also, the long corridors, lobbies and elevators in hotels are great outlets for toddlers to burn energy and curiosity. Cooping the kids up in a grown-up oriented space with fragile table decorations they can't touch can be exhausting.

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#139

Post by m0dest » Thu, Oct 31, 2019, 4:06 PM UTC

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #131

Random business idea: AirBnB but with verified properties. Actually AirBnB can do that themselves easily enough, just hire people to check properties. Or hire secret guests, if the renter redirects the user to another property, withold payments / ban them from the site. But quality is not in AirBnB's interest, apparently - being cheaper is. They get a cut from all financial transactions anyway. Once they're listed on…

I think you just reinvented Airbnb Plus

https://www.airbnb.com/plus

Re: I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb

#140

Post by veselin » Thu, Oct 31, 2019, 4:06 PM UTC

This is a not very difficult problem to solve. Whenever there is a dispute, send somebody to verify the property. For sure AirBnb already has an anti-abuse team, so it is an extra step there. Also, disputes anyway cost them money for the person that answers emails, sometimes do refunds, legal risk, etc. So it will also not be more expensive.

It is one of these "growth" problems that a company is good to have and normally solves in an easy way. Furthermore, the author is still an active user of AirBnb.