How One Airbnb Scammer Got Schooled: A Masterclass in Petty Revenge in Germany
If you’ve ever dealt with a shady landlord or an Airbnb listing that looked a little too perfect, grab some popcorn—this story is for you. Picture this: you’re moving to a bustling German city for six weeks, eager to settle into a tidy apartment with Wi-Fi and sunlight streaming into the kitchen. Instead, you walk into a grimy student dorm room with no Wi-Fi, a host with more rules than a boarding school, and a scam so bold it could be a Netflix special.
But here’s the twist: our protagonist didn’t just take it lying down. He turned the tables and delivered a masterclass in modern-day revenge. Let’s dive in.
When Airbnb Goes Off the Rails
Meet u/chelco95, the hero of our tale who decided to find a room in Germany using Airbnb. Like many of us, he found a promising listing, chatted with the owner, and even went off-platform to save on Airbnb’s notorious fees. What could go wrong, right? (Spoiler: everything.)
On the day of the move-in, the address suddenly changed. Instead of the sunlit apartment from the ad, he was greeted by a dingy student dorm, clearly not meant for subletting—especially not to someone who wasn’t a student. Worse, the promised amenities were nowhere to be found, and the owner’s hospitality quickly soured into a barrage of threats and extra charges for every minor inconvenience.
The Anatomy of a Scam
It didn’t take long for u/chelco95 to realize he’d been snared in a classic “too good to be true” scam. Not only was the room nothing like advertised, but the host’s “business” also included:
- Charging double the rent he himself was paying as a subtenant (the host shelled out €400, but charged €800)
- Operating multiple illegal Airbnb listings (six, to be exact)
- Subletting a student dorm, breaking the rules at every level
- Threatening lawsuits if the scam was exposed online
- Dodging taxes and violating visa terms by running an illegal business
The cherry on top? The host openly bragged about his Airbnb side hustle—despite it being illegal under his student visa. If arrogance was a crime, he’d be doing hard time.
Enter: Petty Revenge
Now, most people might chalk this up to a bad experience and move on. Not u/chelco95. Faced with insults, threats, and mounting frustration, he channeled his inner Sherlock Holmes and started to dig. Soon, his investigation uncovered a web of deceit stretching from subtenant to subtenant—like a Matryoshka doll of shady rentals.
Armed with evidence, our hero launched a multi-pronged attack:
- Reported all six Airbnb listings to the German Ordnungsamt (public order office), which actively hunts down illegal rentals.
- Sent juicy details to the finance authorities—because nothing says “revenge” like a surprise tax audit.
- Forwarded screenshots to the police for insults, threats, and blackmail.
- Warned future renters in Telegram groups, careful to avoid defamation but loud enough to damage the host’s “businessman” reputation.
As if that wasn’t enough, u/chelco95 also discovered the scammer was stiffing the person he was renting from, underpaying and generally leaving a trail of chaos wherever he went.
Sweet, Sweet Justice
The beauty of this story isn’t just the takedown—it’s how methodical and satisfying the revenge was. By using every available reporting tool, our hero ensured that the scammer would have to answer to city officials, tax authorities, the police, and the very community he relied on for new victims.
And, in a poetic twist, the scammer’s own arrogance—bragging about his “business acumen” and threatening lawsuits—only made his downfall faster and juicier.
Lessons for the Rest of Us
So, what can you take away from this saga? A few golden rules:
- If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
- Always trust your instincts—and don’t be afraid to fight back.
- Sometimes, the most satisfying revenge is hitting them where it hurts: their wallet, reputation, and legal standing.
What Would You Do?
Have you ever been scammed by a landlord or Airbnb host? Would you have gone as far as u/chelco95? Or do you have your own story of petty revenge to share? Drop your tales in the comments below—let’s keep the spirit of justice (and a little bit of pettiness) alive!
Remember: When life gives you lemons... report them to every authority you can find. 🍋💼
Inspired by the incredible story from r/PettyRevenge. For the original post and all its glorious updates, check it out here.
Original Reddit Post: You try to con me, I report you everywhere