fraudulent listing

[John7676]

There is a realtor that is fraudulently listing units in our condo without our consent.  We have contacted Airbnb support regarding this issue by phone, email.  We have reported the listings as fraudulent.  Airbnb continues to request that we contact the host.  We haven't been able to contact the host for months and they have been unresponsive on the listings.  We have communicated listings that are clearly duplicates and Airbnb support will not inactivate them and keep insisting that we need to work with the host.  How can we do that when the host does not reply.  We have several police reports against the realtor who is fraudulently listing these units.  The detectives on the case have contacted Airbnb and the listings are still not removed.  What else needs to be done to get these removed?  There should be a way that Airbnb can remove listings that are fraudulent?

[Emi6308]

Hi John,

I am in the same situation except it's a tenant of mine that has listed my home in AIRBNB and VRBO.  I realize I have to report this to the police and file a lawsuit.  VRBO is also not very responsive.  I just came across VRBO and AIRBNB because of noise complaints to the HOA and I was informed about talks that my home is listed.  May I ask if AIRBNB has done anything since?

[Alex1485]

What happens when you talk to the tenant? Did they confirm they are the ones listing. They can remove the listing in under a minute..save you the police/lawsuit…that is a very long road, and you may not like the outcome…

[Emi6308]

Hi Alex,

One listing had his name as the host and when I brought it to his attention and demanded that he take them down he stated "i am taking them down as we speak", which is definitely an admission.  As of 2 minutees ago, the listings in both AIRBNB and VRBO are still active and reservable. 

[Helen3]

In the UK most long term leases have clauses against sub leasing. In your situation I would be moving to evict your tenant if you have similar clauses @Emi6308 

[Emi6308]

It is unfortunate that I discovered all this friday evening when all resources are off for the weekend.  I am unable to deliver a Notice to Vacate using Texas protocol.  So I may have to wait until Monday and he has not paid rent for the month.

It is a shame because he was never late in rent and I have had pleasant interactions with him via text since he's supposedly always travelling.  My HOA presebted a list of complaints and violations that just dd not comply with my lease and then this AIRBNB/VRBO discovery was the icing on the cake.

[John7676]

Airbnb still refuses to remove the listing from the host.  I have sent letters to their legal department and have heard nothing. I have seen that there have been many others who have been in the same situation with Airbnb .  A class action lawsuit should be in order.

[Joan2709]

@John7676 

Looks like you also posted this situation under Help With Your Business:

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Help-with-your-business/Fraudulent-host/td-p/1989082

I suggest you start by reporting the listing(s) and Host using the options provided by Airbnb on the Listing page (see my response to your post in the other thread). Airbnb has 2 places on the listing itself where you can report it. I would report the listing and the Host by using the "Report This Listing" and "Report This Profile" Options:

Main listing page under where you enter dates to book -

Report This Profile -

Scroll to the bottom of the page where it says "Meet Your Host" and click the Host photo. It takes you to the info about the Host. Under the photo on this page click "Report This Profile."

[John7676]

Yes we have had several owners report the listing.  We have sent documentation to Airbnb legal and also emails to Brian Chesky.  The host has had two recent complaints from guests reporting the scam and response rating is at 10%. What does it take to get Airbnb to remove scam listings? 

[Joan2709]

@John7676 

Other reporting options:

If you suspect a real estate agent is fraudulent, you can report them to the proper authorities, including: 

1. Realtor association: File a complaint with your local Realtor association 
2. State licensing department: File a complaint with your state's licensing department 
3. Local law enforcement: File a report with your local police department 
4. Federal Trade Commission: File a complaint with the FTC 
5. FBI: Call the FBI hotline at 202-324-3000 or file a report online at tips.fbi.gov 

State Government

1. Report fraud to State Auditor’s Department
2. If a STR License is required, report fraud to Dept that issues Licenses

Another idea, but not sure it's practical if there are multiple listings:

If the listing is on instant book, then book a stay for as long as possible to block the calendars. Be sure to be careful NOT to book a non-refundable stay and cancel within the full refund window though. If not on instant book, send a request to book for as long as possible. Since the fraudster is not responding very quickly, this might block the calendars for awhile until they catch on.