Beware! Renters report alarming Airbnb scams done by the same man
- Replies 0
With vacancy rates at record lows and rental prices skyrocketing, finding an affordable property can seem impossible.
It's no wonder that tempting Airbnb listings offering cut-rate rents have attracted the eyes of desperate renters.
But police are now investigating a disturbing pattern of rental scams using fraudulent Airbnb listings to target vulnerable tenants—all allegedly done by one person.
The scam involved a man posing as the owner of Airbnb properties, fraudulently renting them out to unsuspecting tenants.
The Victoria Police have been investigating these cases since September, following a report from a tenant who fell victim to this scam a month prior.
The tenant had responded to a rental advertisement on social media for a property on Queens Rd. Believing they had signed a legitimate rental agreement, they were shocked to discover that the property was a short-stay accommodation when they tried to move in.
Detectives encourage additional victims to come forward to help their investigation in search of the scammer.
The police suspect the same man is behind a series of similar scams involving holiday homes and apartments in high-rise buildings.
The alleged scammer is said to hire these properties, impersonate the owner, hold inspections, and then draw up fake rental agreements. He then asks for the payment of a bond and the first month's rent.
The unsuspecting tenants only realise they've been scammed when they attempt to move into the property. They were confronted by the real owner or holiday-makers who informed them that the property was not a rental.
The suspect is described as a Caucasian male in his late 20s to early 30s, about 180cm tall, of medium build with short dark brown hair and stubble.
He speaks with a distinctive Liverpool accent and is believed to frequent the South Melbourne and St Kilda areas.
Detective Senior Constable Demi Pascoe from the Port Phillip Crime Investigation Unit has described these scams as 'deplorable', especially given the current rental crisis.
‘Prospective renters should only be dealing with licensed real estate agents, and if something sounds too good to be true, it generally is,’ he said.
‘Anyone who has fallen victim to a scam of this nature is asked to come forward and report it to police so we can investigate.’
‘There is no need to be embarrassed—and the information you provide may be what police need to identify the man, make an arrest and lay charges,' Constable Pascoe added.
Airbnb Australia and New Zealand have also been assisting the Victoria Police in their investigation and have suspended the guest's account.
A spokesperson for the company stated, 'We enforce strict policies and community standards, and those who violate them can face action including removal from our platform.'
If you recognise the man or believe you may have encountered him, you are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
You may also call 000 immediately in case you are in an emergency situation.
As technology continues to provide convenience to our lives, it has also opened up more opportunities for fraud or scams. In a previous story, a 35-year-old man reportedly targeted potential tenants looking for rental properties through social media platforms.
The police began investigating this incident in May, following multiple reports from victims who had paid rental bonds for properties advertised on social media, only to find they had been deceived. Read more about the story here.
Have you ever encountered a scam while looking for a rental property? Share your experiences in the comments below.
It's no wonder that tempting Airbnb listings offering cut-rate rents have attracted the eyes of desperate renters.
But police are now investigating a disturbing pattern of rental scams using fraudulent Airbnb listings to target vulnerable tenants—all allegedly done by one person.
The scam involved a man posing as the owner of Airbnb properties, fraudulently renting them out to unsuspecting tenants.
The Victoria Police have been investigating these cases since September, following a report from a tenant who fell victim to this scam a month prior.
The same man defrauded Melbourne renters through Airbnb properties. Credit: Unsplash
The tenant had responded to a rental advertisement on social media for a property on Queens Rd. Believing they had signed a legitimate rental agreement, they were shocked to discover that the property was a short-stay accommodation when they tried to move in.
Detectives encourage additional victims to come forward to help their investigation in search of the scammer.
The police suspect the same man is behind a series of similar scams involving holiday homes and apartments in high-rise buildings.
The alleged scammer is said to hire these properties, impersonate the owner, hold inspections, and then draw up fake rental agreements. He then asks for the payment of a bond and the first month's rent.
The unsuspecting tenants only realise they've been scammed when they attempt to move into the property. They were confronted by the real owner or holiday-makers who informed them that the property was not a rental.
The suspect is described as a Caucasian male in his late 20s to early 30s, about 180cm tall, of medium build with short dark brown hair and stubble.
He speaks with a distinctive Liverpool accent and is believed to frequent the South Melbourne and St Kilda areas.
Detective Senior Constable Demi Pascoe from the Port Phillip Crime Investigation Unit has described these scams as 'deplorable', especially given the current rental crisis.
‘Prospective renters should only be dealing with licensed real estate agents, and if something sounds too good to be true, it generally is,’ he said.
‘Anyone who has fallen victim to a scam of this nature is asked to come forward and report it to police so we can investigate.’
‘There is no need to be embarrassed—and the information you provide may be what police need to identify the man, make an arrest and lay charges,' Constable Pascoe added.
Airbnb Australia and New Zealand have also been assisting the Victoria Police in their investigation and have suspended the guest's account.
A spokesperson for the company stated, 'We enforce strict policies and community standards, and those who violate them can face action including removal from our platform.'
If you recognise the man or believe you may have encountered him, you are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
You may also call 000 immediately in case you are in an emergency situation.
As technology continues to provide convenience to our lives, it has also opened up more opportunities for fraud or scams. In a previous story, a 35-year-old man reportedly targeted potential tenants looking for rental properties through social media platforms.
The police began investigating this incident in May, following multiple reports from victims who had paid rental bonds for properties advertised on social media, only to find they had been deceived. Read more about the story here.
