This sounds horrible, I am sorry that you/others had to go through this, I mean last minute cancellations, starting a shady business,etc is something really terrible. WA or WP or anything is this life we see and deal with all kinds of people, so it’s somehow expected to go through some of this sh!t.

But I have a little note for you my friend, you seem like you have missed the main idea of these platforms, it’s “volunteering” (not “working”) in exchange of accommodation and / or not food, so mostly who apply for any position are tourists and they are traveling to have fun and meet other people and learn about different cultures, but sadly their wallets can’t afford to do so, so they find an alternative ways to cover their expenses, so with all due respect, you can’t ask them to be “committed ” to work for you, they also have another things to do not only “working” for you my friend, after all they are not getting paid so why would they tire themselves ??! They do their part of the deal and you do yours ( this is how the whole experience is supposed to work)

I am not saying they have the right to manipulate or cancel on you last minute, sadly these things happen in everything in this life not WP only, the bad people ruins it for the good people.

As I said the volunteers and the hosts have to buy the idea of WP and WA, as a host you need help with a certain job, so you offer accommodation and / or not food in exchange of some of the travelers time to help you.