Really interesting article. There will always be people who just have to take advantage of others. Good for the author who was even more tenacious than the "hosts". It is on AirBnb to protect their customers from the shortcomings of their platform. How can they indicate that a host is verified, when they have done nothing of the sort?
Two things popped out at me. First, one of the people who was scammed seemed to think that he couldn't travel unless he stayed in an AirBnb. “If I had another choice, I would not use Airbnb again,” he told me. “I was very put off by getting scammed. But at this point, I feel like if I want to travel, there’s not really much else I can do.” With just the littlest bit of effort, other accommodations can be found pretty much anywhere.
Second, the last line was quite satisfying. The morning after this article was published, the FBI contacted VICE about the claims made above.
I have told this story before of the house in my neighborhood that is listed as an AirBnb. Inside it looks like the typical listing - spare, functional furniture. There are no pics of the outside however, and I always wonder how the visitors feel when they show up to the one house in our neighborhood with a dirt yard, that occasionally has weeds as an accessory. According to the reviews, the back yard is even worse. That said, I can't believe how nice the reviewers are to the hosts, complimenting them on the house. I especially lol when they mention how nice our neighborhood is. Yes, our neighborhood is great with the exception of the AirBnb house! I wish that I could leave a review since all of us have to deal with the visitors on a daily basis.
. I know the HOA is trying to do something, gal was taking pictures of all the cars/action one day not too long ago. I'm sure the renters wondered why they were being photographed.
