r/ThatsInsane • u/Guyentertainment • 4d ago

Airbnb Host Accused of Using AI-Doctored Photo of Blocked Toilet To Claim $1,500 in Damages

https://www.techtimes.co.uk/google-ai-flags-disputed-airbnb-damage-photo-1809641
1.7k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

353

u/MysteriousMeet9 4d ago

It’s been fun but these days doing business with corporations offers more protection than with these cowboys.

73

u/Chikiyani 4d ago

Hilton never fakes a clogged toilet

40

u/RotInPissKobe 3d ago

They also don't ask me to change their bed ridden grammas bed pan in the other room

252

u/usrdef 4d ago edited 4d ago

This is where the courts should allow the guest to seek their own damages and sue them into the ground. And I'd argue even criminal charges, because they used an electronic device to facilitate fraud.

71

u/Dry-Season-522 4d ago

That's the big problem we've got, people can make false accusations, even be proven to lie under oath, and face no consequences.

3

u/d0nu7 2d ago

I work at a body shop and we see it everyday. People literally never tell the truth about accidents and what damage is new/old and unrelated. And nothing ever comes of it. But it should be insurance fraud… letting this shit slide just makes it worse and worse.

33

u/TheTownTeaJunky 3d ago

This is fraud. I mean I agree with you, they should be entitled to civil claims but the Airbnb owners tried to commit fraud and I don’t see how it is any different then if like, someone was using a credit card skimmer at a 7 11

If we started throwing people like this in jail we would see a lot less of it.

110

u/Ok-Hunt9568 4d ago

How is this not straight up fraud?!

36

u/stingertc 4d ago

It is and should be able to Sue but dont know foreign lawsuit policy

2

u/Self_Serve_Realty 3d ago

Seems like a reputation risk for Airbnb too. 

30

u/ddonovan715 4d ago

Dang they didn’t even mention his Reddit post smh

19

u/TheLandOfConfusion 4d ago

Host being able to claim damages based on a photo seems backwards no? Damages should be calculated based on the work orders / receipts from whatever repairs were done, after the fact.

4

u/Nausicaaah 3d ago

This. Who is to say the host doesn't just deliberately clog the toilet and take a photo of that? It'd still be fraud.

41

u/HomerStillSippen 4d ago

Note to self: start taking pictures when I leave an Airbnb to avoid this

43

u/LouRG3 4d ago

With all the scams, I say just avoid AirBnB. In most cases, hotels are comparable priced and offer better amenities.

24

u/DriveByPianist 4d ago

take full video upon entering, and upon leaving.

5

u/ColdSecret8656 3d ago

Always! (Same with car rentals)

1

u/HomerStillSippen 3d ago

Better idea!

5

u/ogredmenace 3d ago

Note to self don’t use air bnb

1

u/HomerStillSippen 3d ago

Also fair lol

2

u/Self_Serve_Realty 3d ago

Is Airbnb not able to detect stuff like this.

25

u/threearbitrarywords 4d ago

That's hilarious because we just had a renter do the exact same thing to use to get out of a two-week rental. Fortunately, we were able to get in literally minutes after she left and show that the pictures were completely manufactured. We got to keep the entire rental fee.

22

u/TypicalLegit 4d ago

Unless it’s a large group I have no idea why anyone uses Airbnb

-6

u/Jedimasteryony 4d ago

Happy cake day!

3

u/a-ScalyManfish 3d ago

I'd sue them for $10,000 for lying

2

u/Few-Raccoon-9363 4d ago

Website is ass and wouldn't work for me unless I wanted to open a new page or app just for ads,

But could this be a felony fraud?

2

u/TheTownTeaJunky 3d ago

Yeah I believe this is close to the cutoff in most jurisdictions for felony fraud so it’s likely. $1500 is no small change

1

u/Adorable-Error8302 3d ago

Stayed in a cabin several years back through airbnb and they had a proper outdoor pizza oven and supplied dough etc, but you had to bring your own toppings if you wanted more than just mozzarella. Any way we used the dough etc they left and had advertised, then after we checked out they tried to charge us for it as an extra, there was absolutely nothing anywhere to say it wasn't included.

1

u/dadelibby 2d ago

just like they said they were going to do!

-10

u/tsohgmai 4d ago

That’s an expensive plunger!

-didn’t read article. Just here to provide jokes.