Two Cousins Plead Guilty to $8.5 Million Double-Booking Rental Scam
Two cousins, Shray Goel and Shaunik Raheja, have pleaded guilty to federal crimes involving a nationwide short-term rental scam that generated approximately $8.5 million in fraudulent revenue. Operating since 2013 through entities like Abbot Pacific LLC, the defendants listed properties on platforms including Airbnb and Vrbo using fake identities and fabricated reviews. Their scheme relied on a double-booking strategy where they would list the same property multiple times at varying prices, accepting the most profitable reservation while canceling others with false excuses such as maintenance issues. Federal prosecutors alleged that the cousins disproportionately targeted guests perceived to be Black for cancellations, although this discrimination charge was not part of their guilty pleas. Goel admitted to wire fraud, while Raheja pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for lying to federal agents. Airbnb condemned the actions of these bad actors, emphasizing their cooperation with the FBI and ongoing efforts to strengthen platform defenses. The operation spanned multiple cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Denver, affecting over 10,000 bookings before the defendants were caught and banned from various platforms.
Wire timeline
Two Cousins Plead Guilty to $8.5 Million Double-Booking Rental Scam
Two cousins, Shray Goel and Shaunik Raheja, have pleaded guilty to federal crimes involving a nationwide short-term rental scam that generated approximately $8.5 million in fraudulent revenue. Operating since 2013 through entities like Abbot Pacific LLC, the defendants listed properties on platforms including Airbnb and Vrbo using fake identities and fabricated reviews. Their scheme relied on a double-booking strategy where they would list the same property multiple times at varying prices, accepting the most profitable reservation while canceling others with false excuses such as maintenance issues. Federal prosecutors alleged that the cousins disproportionately targeted guests perceived to be Black for cancellations, although this discrimination charge was not part of their guilty pleas. Goel admitted to wire fraud, while Raheja pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for lying to federal agents. Airbnb condemned the actions of these bad actors, emphasizing their cooperation with the FBI and ongoing efforts to strengthen platform defenses. The operation spanned multiple cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Denver, affecting over 10,000 bookings before the defendants were caught and banned from various platforms.
latimes