Nationwide Airbnb Scam Exposed
- Thread starter CallMeOP
- Start date
upex
Newbie
- Nov 5, 2019
- 7
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CallMeOP
Junior Member
- Oct 29, 2018
- 115
- 28
No problem, this is a very, very interesting article. It raises some thoughts about how this could be happening in other areas as well.
CallMeOP
Junior Member
- Oct 29, 2018
- 115
- 28
No problem! Hahaha it was a long but interesting read, I forced myself to read through it and try to understand it myself. The videos never really got viral.. maybe I should make one
CallMeOP
Junior Member
- Oct 29, 2018
- 115
- 28
You mean before the scam was exposed? Weird though, I am not sure what to expect. I see some sales of Airbnb account going around right now. Maybe they are trying to get rid of these accounts.
- Nov 29, 2008
- 9,121
- 4,719
If the price is low enough, I'm sure most short term renters probably won't care enough to report it... no wonder this story 'broke' only due to that VICE article
Trust WorkShop
Elite Member
- Oct 13, 2018
- 6,474
- 5,958
I once had a terrible experience with Airbnb. Luckily small amount loss for me. After that, if I would have to visit a city and even sleep on the road, I would, instead of using Airbnb.
CallMeOP
Junior Member
- Oct 29, 2018
- 115
- 28
That's true, I think there was some smart marketing involved. It was all over business meme pages
!I can't imagine how awful it must be to have a similar experience. My vacation would be totally ruined lol. But, I might trace them down as well haha
!
- Mar 22, 2013
- 5,604
- 9,801
This exact stuff happened to me as well in Bangkok. One guy just made a fake account and rented a nice apartment for a reasonable price. I thought "Okay, this guy might be fake, but I won't have anything to lose" so I rented it. Just the day before the guy suddenly messaged me and asked me if he could change the date to today, because the last time some customer just cancelled on him one day before arriving. At this moment I knew this guy was a scam.
So I asked him for his phone number, LINE id, email and so on. His line ID was completely ridiculous it was like "thailandaccount123" lol. I guess this guy wasn't even from Thailand. I called him, he didn't pick up the phone and a few seconds later he messaged me he would be more comfortable to write than to talk.
One hour later I received a message from Airbnb with a refund, that this guy seems to a fraud and they automatically cancelled my booking with him.
But I have to say: I rented more than 30 apartments on Airbnb and never had a problem. Especially in Thailand, Japan, China and South Korea it all worked really well. Just make a due diligence before booking.
So I asked him for his phone number, LINE id, email and so on. His line ID was completely ridiculous it was like "thailandaccount123" lol. I guess this guy wasn't even from Thailand. I called him, he didn't pick up the phone and a few seconds later he messaged me he would be more comfortable to write than to talk.
One hour later I received a message from Airbnb with a refund, that this guy seems to a fraud and they automatically cancelled my booking with him.
But I have to say: I rented more than 30 apartments on Airbnb and never had a problem. Especially in Thailand, Japan, China and South Korea it all worked really well. Just make a due diligence before booking.
CallMeOP
Junior Member
- Oct 29, 2018
- 115
- 28
I agree. I have had very good experiences with Airbnb 99% of the time. Doing due diligence before any purchase is always a smart move.
- Jan 6, 2015
- 7,780
- 10,103
Personally I used AirBNB couple of times and I always rent from top sellers, I`ve been more than impressed with what I`ve seen, how they meet us and the environment itself.
They have reviews, they have stars rating and so on.
On the other side last year I buy a pack from one of the most knowns travel agencies in my country, when I arrive in Turkey at that hotel they try to cheat me, to put 4 people in 1 room even if we pay 2 doubles, fuck with us a lot until we almost fight with them and they ruin half of our holidays because of that shitty bad feeling and first impression.
Why? Because I was tight and I say: Fuck 5 stars hotels I`ll sleep the same in a 3 stars hotel ( Ford method )
Lesson: FUCK NO! Cheap Shitty hotels, Airbnb or other types of services are nothing then a rat whole, on all niches.
This is available on any kind of services, online or offline.
They have reviews, they have stars rating and so on.
On the other side last year I buy a pack from one of the most knowns travel agencies in my country, when I arrive in Turkey at that hotel they try to cheat me, to put 4 people in 1 room even if we pay 2 doubles, fuck with us a lot until we almost fight with them and they ruin half of our holidays because of that shitty bad feeling and first impression.
Why? Because I was tight and I say: Fuck 5 stars hotels I`ll sleep the same in a 3 stars hotel ( Ford method )
Lesson: FUCK NO! Cheap Shitty hotels, Airbnb or other types of services are nothing then a rat whole, on all niches.
- You want quality? PAY FOR IT!
- You are tight and stupid like me? Ruin your holidays or services.
- You can`t afford it? Stay home, period!
This is available on any kind of services, online or offline.
CallMeOP
Junior Member
- Oct 29, 2018
- 115
- 28
It's sad that this is how the world operates. If you have no money, you have no say. In order to really live life comfortably, you really need to have "Fuck You" money.
- Mar 22, 2013
- 5,604
- 9,801
Thats typical in Turkey and this kinda tourist countries. They try to rip you off wherever they can, but this has nothing to do with 3 or 5 star hotel. The only way you can expect HASSLE FREE holiday is when you book in a real brand hotel. Holiday Inn, Hilton, Courtyard, Mercure etc. won't give you trouble. I stayed with Holiday Inn Express in 6 different countries (Malaysia, Korea, Japan, China, Turkey and Portugal) and the experience was always the same - no trouble, no hassle, perfect internet, super clean etc.
About the rip off: Same shit happened to me in Spain, but in a 5 star hotel. Suddenly the girl at the reception said "You have a double bed room, but only one person is allowed to sleep there, you have to pay the same price for one more person".........like it would change anything if there is one more person in the room. Completely savage and just a rip off. And as I said: 5 star hotel.
The internet was also a huge rip off: 10€ per day per device! LOL imagine this shit.
The funniest part ever: These guys wouldn't allow people with shorts to go to dinner. So basically they would rip off their customers off completely wherever they can, but would act like a real 5 star hotel.
- Jan 6, 2015
- 7,780
- 10,103
Yes, and it`s fair. Believe me, because I come from an old communist country and when my father tells me stories I`m shocked.
There is money out there to be made, in each field, all you need to do is to work, I`m coming from a poor family, I am still not happy with my financials but I work daily hard to make my family life better instead of watching fucking Netflix or fuck about around like most of my friends, and when they see me in the city on a drink sometimes they joke like: `` Oh you come to real world! ``
I visit 1-3 countries a year, I look after my family and I am proud to say it.
They stay around the corner drinking cheap coffees and pointing to the politicians and how the system is fucked up because is always someone else fault, not ours!
So yes, let`s make `` the fuck you `` money and live as we want!
I think I have Tourette
Peace!
I`m out!
- Mar 10, 2010
- 40,024
- 96,655
And you can if you make it and don't blow it.
As to the Airbnb scam, it is going to cost them to fix this for sure.
I personally would never stay in an Airbnb as there is almost always a decent hotel available.
Take a chance on a stranger's house or go to a hotel chain that has a positive reputation... no brainer for me.
CallMeOP
Junior Member
- Oct 29, 2018
- 115
- 28
What about if you travel with friends? It is actually pretty fun to stay in villa's and it's like a family bro trip but private at the same time.
I'll have my sales thread up one day
Can't wait to give value back to BHW.Sooner or later
But, a lot of them who are smart managed to stop once they have earn their fair share, that's the hardest thing to do. To stop when things are getting better and better.
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