Now, being a savvy traveler means knowing how to look out for scams on sites like Airbnb when booking accommodations. However, investors need to be just as careful before investing their money into this booming industry. This article covers how Hands-Free Automation misled the public and is facing a fraud lawsuit…
If it Sounds Too Good to Be True, It Probably Is…
In January 2023, 22 plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against Hands-Free Automation. The suit alleges that the company defrauded them.
THIS ARBITRAGE BUSINESS WAS RUN THROUGH AIRBNB AND INVESTORS CLAIM IT WAS A SCAM FOR THEM AND THEIR “CUSTOMERS.”
But, what exactly were these individuals promised versus what they got? Aside from these “inspirational quotes” on HFA’s Instagram…
According to the co-founder of Hands-Free Automation, Anthony Agyeman, the venture works like this…
In a promotional video, he says HFA has “5-year exclusive contracts” with properties on third-party reservation sites…
Their AI software “reserves” these listings at a low price…
Then “relists” them on Airbnb for a higher cost…
A $20,000 to 30,000 investment gives an investor access as an Airbnb Host to receive the profits of the listings…
In theory, they don’t have to maintain or own anything. They just have to let the money roll in from people booking vacations…
There is only one problem…
THIS IS 100% AGAINST AIRBNB’S TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
Also, it turns out that being a Host is not the hands-free revenue investors were promised …
Bookings with Automated Airbnb Scam Were Either Misleading or DIDN’T EXIST
As this lawsuit heats, CNBC got several first-person accounts from investors in HFA and those who booked their listings.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE STORIES WERE SHOCKING.
Daryn Carr, an investor in Hands-Free Automation, shared how his guests would show up to listings they’d booked and…
The hotels would have no record of the reservation.
In contrast, an Airbnb user found out her HFA reservation was a scam when she looked at Google Maps…
And, saw the address was a vacant lot.
As a result, Airbnb has removed all of Hands-Free Automation’s listings on the site. So, it appears that AI shopping scams fabricating more than just garments.
From here, we will continue to follow the suit to discover whether investors will be able to recoup losses.
Be Great,
GCTV Staff
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