A new YouTube advertisement by self-help marketer Tai Lopez
entitled "Here in My
Backyard" appears to display a home that is likely not owned by
Mr. Lopez. The ad is a follow up to a now famous and parodied
advertisement, "Here in My Garage", where Lopez shows off his
expensive cars and offers to help others achieve wealth.
A video
by h3h3Productions entitled The Tai Lopez Conspiracy shows a home
with a short-term rental
advertisement on Zillow.com designed and decorated exactly as
it is displayed in Mr. Lopez's video. The home is located in
Beverly Hills. Mr. Lopez claims it to be his own home in his
YouTube advertisement. However, records show it was
last purchased in 1996 by 62 year old Marc Bohbot and 55 year
old Michelle Bohbot. Michelle Bohbot is a notable fashion
designer and creator of the Bisou Bisou brand that is licensed
to JC Penney Company Inc. The home was
listed for sale for 44 million and removed as a listing in May
2013. The listing was offered by Steven Bohbot, the son of Marc and
Michelle Bohbot. In April 2015 it was listed for rent and went
through at least seven price reductions through August 2015, where
it was listed at $75,000 a month. The listing was offered again by
Steven Bohbot, the son of Marc and Michelle Bohbot, who is also a
licensed broker and whose name appears to be affiliated
with Bradley Simmons Realty.
YouTube parent Google - Now AlphaBet Inc. - has a policy on
scam advertising stating, "Some users create content
which attempts to trick others for their own financial gain.
Content that deliberately tries to mislead users for financial gain
may be removed, and in some cases strikes may be issued to the
uploader. Please be wary of claims that seem too good
to be true, as they likely are." It is unclear how much financial
benefit Mr. Lopez and Alphabet Inc. have achieved on these
potentially deceptive advertisements.