Unverified public claims from renters, collected daily from X, Reddit, reviews and the news. We link every source. We don't verify them, and you shouldn't treat them as fact. RSS feed
A Calabasas man was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison and fined $15,000 over an Airbnb and Vrbo double-booking scheme, MyNewsLA reported. Guests were often bumped with last-minute excuses such as plumbing problems.
News: MyNewsLA ↗ · Named here? Respond #
Police said a local home was listed for rent online without the owner's permission, and several would-be renters showed up at the property. Police did not say whether anyone lost money.
Two cousins pleaded guilty in a federal case over a scheme that, prosecutors said, double-booked the same rentals on Airbnb and Vrbo and moved or cancelled guests with fake excuses like plumbing problems. One pleaded to wire fraud, the other to obstruction; other indictment allegations were not proven.
Court / prosecutor record: U.S. Attorney's Office, C.D. Cal. (via FHFA OIG) ↗ · Named here? Respond #
The U.S. Secret Service said scammers advertised luxury Rome rentals that didn't exist, talked travelers into paying deposits by phone instead of through the booking site, and sent fake confirmation numbers.
Public source: U.S. Secret Service ↗ · Named here? Respond #
A guest told The Guardian a Manhattan host claimed more than £12,000 in damage using photos she says were digitally altered. Airbnb first sided with the host, then refunded her and apologised after the paper asked questions.
News: The Guardian ↗ · Named here? Respond #
The LA City Attorney sued Airbnb, alleging prices on thousands of LA listings rose past California's 10% emergency price-gouging limit after the January 2025 wildfires. These are allegations; no court has ruled.
City / police / regulator record: Los Angeles City Attorney ↗ · Named here? Respond #
The Guardian reported that scammers appear to be hacking accommodation accounts and then messaging guests, sometimes inside the real Booking.com app, demanding urgent card details to avoid a cancellation.
News: The Guardian ↗ · Named here? Respond #
The Indian Express reported that Goa police arrested four people accused of listing villas that didn't exist on travel sites and taking advance payments off-platform, using photos of other properties.
News: The Indian Express ↗ · Named here? Respond #
A couple told FOX 10 Phoenix they were handcuffed by police after booking a backyard pool on Swimply that the homeowners had never listed. They were released without charges, and Swimply said it refunded them.
News: FOX 10 Phoenix ↗ · Named here? Respond #
The LA City Attorney sued operators it says illegally rented at least 30 leased homes short-term on Airbnb and other sites without city registration, and hid the real locations until after guests booked. These are allegations in a civil complaint.
City / police / regulator record: Los Angeles City Attorney ↗ · Named here? Respond #
A family told KETV they booked a Vrbo home and walked in through an unlocked door, only to learn the owner had never listed it. Vrbo said the listing was unauthorized, removed it and refunded the family.
News: KETV ↗ · Named here? Respond #
The LA City Attorney sued a short-term rental operator it says ran hundreds of leased properties as illegal party houses, with police called to linked properties more than 250 times in two years. The allegations are unproven.
City / police / regulator record: Los Angeles City Attorney ↗ · Named here? Respond #
WIRED reported that its reporter was put in a different London apartment than the one booked, and traced linked host accounts with stock-photo profiles and over 2,100 reviews on about 200 listings. WIRED said Airbnb suspended the linked listings after being alerted.
News: WIRED ↗ · Named here? Respond #
A VICE reporter says they were moved at the last minute from a booked Chicago listing over a supposed plumbing issue, then traced the host profile to what VICE described as a network of nearly 100 listings in eight cities with fake reviews.
News: VICE ↗ · Named here? Respond #
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