‘Wolf of Airbnb’ sublet out 18 apartments but didn’t pay New York landlords, US feds say

Bicher, a 31-year-old from Florida, rented at least 18 apartments in Manhattan in late 2019, but failed to pay rent, according to a news release from the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. — Reuters

New York City has played host to its fair share of grifters over the years. The Brooklyn Bridge was famously “sold” by a con artist in the 1880s. Fake heiress Anna Delvey defrauded banks and hotels several years ago. Now a man who called himself the “wolf of Airbnb” is facing charges after reportedly running an illegal subletting operation in Manhattan, costing landlords over US$1mil (RM4.72mil), according to officials.

Konrad Bicher, a 31-year-old from Florida, rented at least 18 apartments in Manhattan in late 2019, but failed to pay rent, according to a news release from the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Instead, despite being prohibited in his lease agreements, he listed the units as short-term rentals on Airbnb and other online marketplaces, prosecutors say.