The Road‑to‑A‑Hidden Airbnb Scam
Picture this: a humble taxi driver, Mr. Hong, cruising between Changi Airport and Sengkang on a sunny Tuesday. He’s got a couple of tourists in the back seat, and they’re itching to hit the flats of the city. What they didn’t expect was a plot twist that could have been ripped straight from a copy‑cat thriller.
1. The Unexpected Invoice
- Tourists hand Mr. Hong an Airbnb invoice—bombshell, right?
- Where? A Housing & Development Board (HDB) flat—and that’s a no‑go for short‑term rentals.
- Mr. Hong’s gut reaction? “This can’t be right”—the subtitle “Regulations vs. Reality” covers this spot.
2. A Mini‑Moral Check‑in
Mr. Hong calls out the tourism chars in a calm, “Dear friends, we’re not at a hotel, nor a short‑stay‑approved unit.” The passengers? They’re rock‑steady, saying “The owner is staying with us.”
3. The Flat Realisation.
At Fernvale Link, the mystery solidifies. The “room” they’re headed to? A legit HDB flat—about as likely as a pigeon turning into a pigeon‑royal‑champion. Mr. Hong checks the signs: “Is this still illegal?” You could say his mind was on auto‑pause.
4. The Discovery Cycle
- Using the invoice’s photo, reporters track down the Airbnb listing.
- Price tag: $42 a night. Reviews? 45 glowing thumbs up—scoring higher than a Ritz‑Cox in a bakery.
- When reporters dropped by, they confronted the woman who owns the flat.
The Owner’s Confusion
“I thought it was absolutely fine,” she confesses. “Everyone else on Airbnb is doing the same thing.” In hindsight, she’s basically a polite college roommate—she just didn’t realize her hiding place was in the wrong regulatory town.
5. Final Verdict: The Airbnb List Vanishes
In an effort to polish the public scorecard, Airbnb pulls the listing down. So, where’ll those tourists stay? Hefty travel advice: think hotels or official short‑stay flats—and keep your invoices away from the HDB rule book.
TL;DR: A taxi driver spotted a hidden Airbnb case that in a snap had parked in a regime, and thanks to a quick check, bad vibes were turned into a normal licensed stay. Next time you’re in Sengkang, double‑check that you’re stepping into a Hotel rather than clandestine Airbnb.\n
