I stayed in LA last year for a few days and it was really sketchy. When we checked in the guy said to say we were staying with a friend if anyone asked and then kept texting my girlfriend asking us to stay extra nights.
I had a similar experience in NYC circa 2019. Several weeks before the scheduled stay, the host wrote that we should lie if anyone asked us about the situation. I was not okay with that and canceled the reservation. Despite the sketchiness, Airbnb refused to refund any of the prepayment.
