Has anyone heard of a host renting a space they do not live in, on a floor that does not exist?

[Donna240]

As a property owner, I was just contacted by my city to inform me that my tenant, name unknown to me, is making a second attempt to get licensed for an apartment on the fith floor of a small building I own, that is 4 stories tall. If that's not insane enough, the city requires notes from property owners giving permission to their tenants to use their property for short term rentals and without it, the license cannot be processed. In summation, someone is scamming the city to get an STR license using a real property address that they have nothing to do with and then using a property owner's real name to fake a written permission.and they have evidentally hired a property management company to handle the bookings. This person has way too much time on their hands.

[John2406]

I don't know about whether or not the said "person has too much time on their hands", but if definitely sounds as though they have ulterior motives in mind , and that is to scam unsuspecting people out of their hard-earned money!

Fifth floor of a 4 storied property?!!!! Second attempt to gain a licence?!!!  "the city requires notes from property owners giving permission to their tenants to use their property for short term rentals"?!!!

All of those things and more should mean that you contact both "the city" (or whoever it was that sent you those 'demands' , as well as your local Police Department, together with  -  possibly  -  whoever is responsible for local and national taxes, and let them know that the [named] person whom you don't know anything about has a premeditated plan to defraud, and that you want the said Departments to investigate (put it all in writing, and ensure you obtain Crime numbers and names of those with whom you contact).

I don't know about the word "insane" however, as most so-called 'insane' people I have known have been more sane than those who are said to be completely sane! and furthermore, such an intended and premeditated scam to defraud, could only be undertaken by those who are fully compos mentis!

[Dena37]

Donna, Thanks for your post - We're new to AIRBNB; our 1st trip was to Cabo last week, and everything went fine.  But I started to wonder if or how AIRBNB determines if the host has the authority to actually offer the property for rent!  I work for www.afxllc.com, and we verify ownership for all the major homeowner's insurance companies in the US (part of their fraud-prevention process before paying out claims).  I'm just doing research before making a proposal to AIRBNB management, and ran across your post.  As a host, would you be willing to pay $5 - $30 to get a "Verified Owner" label that would let guests know you are the actual owner and not a fake?  Thanx!  Brad (& Dena) G.