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Comedy Scams Swindles Schemes Web Series

Travel scams: fake AirBnB hosts and shady car rentals—Scams, Swindles, and Schemes

It pays to know who you’re dealing with! Onicia and Devin discuss travel scams.

Onicia and Devin go back to basics this week with no new guests, but plenty of stories. First up, somebody tried to scam Onicia! Good thing she knew better. Later, they look into fake AirBnB hosts. This is exactly how the housing bubble crisis happened. (We think. Allegedly. LOL)

The pandemic rears its ugly head again, because those AirBnB scammers were the first hit when it got out of control. Nobody wanted to stay in someone else’s house when they couldn’t leave their own! But we keep it light and friendly on Scams, Swindles, and Schemes and this is no different.

You can reach out to us on Twitter, donate to our sleazy lawyer fund, subscribe to Devin’s and Onicia’s YouTube channels–and tell us how you plan to get ahead in your career.

https://youtu.be/Hzx76MRlKls

Local car rental tries to scam a local

Onicia was visiting family and had to rent a car, but the renting service tried to squeeze more money out of her. She knew what was going on, though! Ultimately, she couldn’t fault these scammers from trying to get ahead. Too bad Devin doesn’t drive, so he could barely relate to any of what she was talking about.

https://youtu.be/rj2fIuoVq70

Question: Do you think Onicia damaged that car or was the car rental company trying to pull a fast one?

Shout at @devinagonistes and @OniciaMuller on Twitter.

Fake AirBnB host get rich quick scam

Special thanks to Remigio Torres for bringing this scam to the show’s attention! Because subletting an apartment isn’t complicated enough, some people have decided to list properties they don’t own on AirBnB and hope nobody asks questions. Onicia and Devin talk about the logistics of this, how it was affected by the pandemic, and why it’s a terrible idea all around.

https://youtu.be/GYJQykQO6NI

Question: Tweet us (@devinagonistes and @OniciaMuller) to tell us your favorite AirBnB stories!

Shout at @devinagonistes and @OniciaMuller on Twitter.

By Onicia Muller

Award-winning Caribbean comedian, Onicia Muller’s weekly humour column, Just Being Funny is chicken soup for the naive sceptic’s soul. You can hire her to write anything from blogs and newsletters to (bathroom poetry) funny greeting cards. Join her newsletter for funny stories and stand-up comedy. www.OniciaMuller.com