YouTuber, Sean Rakidzich

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Kevin-s0
Level 10
Minamiashigara, Japan

YouTuber, Sean Rakidzich

Sean Rakidzich has a very popular channel on YouTube about Airbnb hosting.  In one of his latest videos, he advises hosts to set up a company, rent out apartments and not tell the landlords that you will be doing Airbnb in the apartment, "and it is not illegal," Sean claims.  Sean is a host himself he says.  Sean has over 200,000 subscribers at YouTube.  He sells courses on hosting. 

 

Airbnb has suffered so much negative publicity, I feel this advice is unethical, and will damage Airbnb as a whole, and hosts in particular.  I feel that we need to be good examples so that our local communities see the value in what we are doing.  We provide jobs for local people and tourists also buy from local stores.  Unethical behavior will be talked about.  We will all suffer. 

 

But basically lying or (not being totally honest with landlords) is what Rakidzich espouses as being "sales."   I feel what it espouses is being a sleaze bag.   Sean himself admits this is "controversial."  What do others think?

 

Should we do whatever we want and not tell the truth when renting an apartment as it is "just sales."   I suspect that CEO Brian Chesky would be very much against behavior like this.  Here is Sean's video:  https://youtu.be/DTLc7GLpkYA?si=PHNVyDbPi81pvCtS

What do you think?  

1 Best Answer
Helen427
Level 10
Auckland, New Zealand

They get caught one way or another

 

Here's a couple of recent ones in the international NEWS Media, there's others mentioned here in the CC if you use related keywords in the Search box.

 

Wolf of Airbnb Pleads Guilty to Fraud

https://fortune.com/2023/06/26/wolf-of-airbnb-pleads-guilty-to-fraud/

 

Investors in Airbnb arbitrage business allege they were defrauded in scheme promising ‘higher returns than the stock market’
Published Sun, Feb 11 20247:07 AM ESTUpdated Sun, Feb 11 20249:19 PM EST

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/11/investors-in-airbnb-arbitrage-business-allege-they-were-defrauded.ht...

 

 

Press Release
 

2 Indicted in $8.5 Million Nationwide Airbnb/Vrbo Scam that Allegedly Defrauded 1000s of Victims and Discriminated Against Renters

Thursday, January 4, 2024

 

https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/2-indicted-85-million-nationwide-airbnbvrbo-scam-allegedly-defr...

 

 

 

 

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16 Replies 16
Kevin-s0
Level 10
Minamiashigara, Japan

My video about Sean Rakidzich and one of his controversial videos:

 

https://youtu.be/yoFE14lAsNk?si=KaXPHc49DoXCqNGg

Helen3
Level 10
Bristol, United Kingdom

As a large scale host with low ratings way below Airbnb's 4.6 rating standard - who Airbnb allows to continue to host on its platform despite an average 4.41 rating @Sean1591 

 

do you know why Airbnb allows large scale operators to get away with low ratings . Are you allowed to meet lower ratings?