WE GOT A

@vegasstarfish

1.8M followers · usually 39.3K views a post

Views

360.8K

Likes

34.3K

Comments

456

1.6K

SoundTikTok sound · Suspense, horror, piano and music box

Why it worked

The video tapped into a common fear of travel scams and the growing concern around AI-generated content being used deceptively. The creator's personal investigation and the subsequent media attention created a compelling narrative that resonated with viewers, leading to widespread sharing and engagement.

Summary

The creator investigates and exposes a fake hotel in Las Vegas called "Palette" that was allegedly scamming guests. The hotel used AI-generated images and listed on reputable travel sites, but refused refunds and provided terrible conditions. The video details how the exposure led to investigations and the removal of the listing from major travel platforms.

Structure

1Introduction to the problem: a gross Las Vegas hotel.
2Investigation into the fake hotel 'Palette' and its deceptive practices.
3Exposure of the fake hotel through social media and news outlets.
4The consequences: travel sites removing the listing and the hotel being unavailable.
5Broader implications: travel platforms not verifying listings and the rise of AI scams.
6Call to action and creator's personal experience.

Product placement

OYO (hotel chain): ACTS - The video discusses the hotel chain's alleged deceptive practices and the condition of one of its hotels. Removing the name would change what happens in the video. Palette (hotel): ACTS - The video discusses this specific hotel, its fake listings, and its poor conditions. Removing the name would change what happens in the video. Expedia (travel booking website): APPEARS - The website is shown as a place where the fake hotel was listed. Removing it would not change what happens in the video. Hotels.com (travel booking website): APPEARS - The website is shown as a place where the fake hotel was listed. Removing it would not change what happens in the video. Booking.com (travel booking website): APPEARS - The website is shown as a place where the fake hotel was listed. Removing it would not change what happens in the video. Tripadvisor (travel review website): APPEARS - The website is shown with a review of the fake hotel. Removing it would not change what happens in the video. New York Post (news publication): APPEARS - The publication is shown as having reported on the story. Removing it would not change what happens in the video. Vegas.com (news publication): APPEARS - The publication is shown as having reported on the story. Removing it would not change what happens in the video. Parade (magazine): APPEARS - The magazine is shown as having reported on the story. Removing it would not change what happens in the video. news.com.au (news publication): APPEARS - The publication is shown as having reported on the story. Removing it would not change what happens in the video. Beacons.ai (link aggregator): APPEARS - The creator's bio link is to this platform. Removing it would not change what happens in the video.

Original caption

Update on the OYO Las Vegas and the fake AI generated hotel they created “Palette” to trick guests into booking, only to refuse them a refund and force them to stay somewhere that’s dirty, smells bad and unsafe. OYO ranked among the worst in Vegas with broken elevators, air conditioners and dirty rooms with stained walls & bedding. Thanks to your help all of the reputable travel sites have removed the listing and for now at least, this predatory scam has been paused. #vegas #lasvegas #vegasstarfish #travel #hotel

More from @vegasstarfish

On-screen text

WE GOT A LAS VEGAS HOTEL LESS THAN 24 HOURS. HERE'S AN UPDATE GROSSEST HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS WAS TRICKING AND TRAPPING GUEST. KNOW, I'M TALKING THIS IS ALL I STAYED THERE. IS GROSS, THE REVIEWS ARE TERRIBLE, HURTING FOR BUSINESS. SO THEY CREATED AN ENTIRELY FAKE HOTEL CALLED PALETTE. IT WAS LISTED ON EVERY REPUTABLE TRAVEL SITE, THESE FANTASTIC PICTURES: IT LOOKS SO NICE. ONLY ALL THE PICTURES ARE AI GENERATED HOTEL DOES NOT EXIST. ADDRESS, IT'S ACTUALLY TO THE OYO PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT'S THE OYO AND THEN UP TO CHECK IN, FIND OUT IT'S NOT WHAT THEY BOOKED, TRAPPED BECAUSE THE GIVE THEM A REFUND. VIDEO FROM ANOTHER CREATOR, ARIANA, TAG IN THE COMMENTS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO HER, TERRIBLE. I DID SOME INVESTIGATION AND VIDEO TO WARN PEOPLE. WENT VIRAL, AND NATIONAL MEDIA PICKED UP THE STORY. WORDS "HUMAN ENTHUSIASM" WHICH I'M KINDA PROUD OF. AND THEN OTHER CREATORS STARTED MAKING VIDEOS, PEOPLE STARTED LEAVING REVIEWS. ON REDDIT. THIS HEADLINE IS FROM AUSTRALIA, SO APPARENTLY IT WENT EVERYWHERE. THIS IS A SCAM, IT'S ACTUALLY THE Oyo - PALETTE LAS VEGAS NOW WHEN YOU ALL YOU GET IS WARNINGS THAT I SCAM, GOAL. WE WERE SUCCESSFUL. MAJOR TRAVEL SITES OPENED INVESTIGATIONS AND WITHIN 12 NO LONGER BOOK A STAY AT PALETTE. I HAD ALREADY THEY AUTO CANCELLED IT AND REFUNDED MY MONEY. EMPLOYEES FROM OYO SENT ME MESSAGES BEEN PURE CHAOS INTERNALLY. APPARENTLY CORPORATE DIDN'T THINK ANYONE WOULD NOTICE THIS OR CARE. I AM STILL CONCERNED ABOUT A FEW THINGS. PALETTE ON EXPEDIA, THERE. BUT IF BOOK IT, THEY ARE SOLD FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. THEY'VE ALSO SCRUBBED THE ADDRESS AND ANY IDENTIFIABLE PICTURES THAT LINKS IT TO OYO SO SOMEONE HAS NOT REMOVED IT. WE SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THAT. IT'S ALSO TROUBLESOME TRAVEL PLATFORMS ARE NOT VERIFYING ANYTHING. APPARENTLY, ANYONE CAN START A HOTEL AND LIST IT AND TAKE BOOKINGS. OF AI THIS IS BOUND TO HAPPEN AGAIN. OYO, FIX YOUR ELEVATORS. BE WALKING DOWN 18 FLOORS WHEN IT'S 110 DEGREES OUTSIDE YOUR AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T WORK. AND WASH THOSE WALLS. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENGAGED, SHARED, AND HELPED. DETAILS THAT I HAVE IN THE COMMENTS. FOLLOW ME FOR ALL THE VEGAS.

Transcript

We got a Las Vegas hotel less than 24 hours. Here's an update grossest hotel in Las Vegas was tricking and trapping guest. Know, I'm talking this is all I stayed there. Is gross, the reviews are terrible, hurting for business. So they created an entirely fake hotel called Palette. It was listed on every reputable travel site, these fantastic pictures: It looks so nice. Only all the pictures are AI generated hotel does not exist. address, it's actually to the OYO parking lot because it's the OYO and then up to check in, find out it's not what they booked, trapped because the give them a refund. video from another creator, Ariana, tag in the comments. This is exactly what happened to her, terrible. I did some investigation and video to warn people. went viral, and national media picked up the story. words "human enthusiasm" which I'm kinda proud of. And then other creators started making videos, people started leaving reviews. On Reddit. This headline is from Australia, so apparently it went everywhere. This is a scam, it's actually the Oyo - Palette Las Vegas Now when you all you get is warnings that I scam, goal. We were successful. Major travel sites opened investigations and within 12 no longer book a stay at Palette. I had already they auto cancelled it and refunded my money. Employees from OYO sent me messages been pure chaos internally. Apparently corporate didn't think anyone would notice this or care. I am still concerned about a few things. Palette on Expedia, there. But if book it, they are sold for the foreseeable future. They've also scrubbed the address and any identifiable pictures that links it to OYO so someone has not removed it. We should keep an eye on that. It's also troublesome travel platforms are not verifying anything. Apparently, anyone can start a hotel and list it and take bookings. Of AI this is bound to happen again. OYO, fix your elevators. be walking down 18 floors when it's 110 degrees outside your air conditioner doesn't work. and wash those walls. Thank you to everyone who engaged, shared, and helped. details that I have in the comments. Follow me for all the Vegas.