You know, anyone who takes a trip or a holiday nowadays seems to rely on Airbnb, and it's easy to see why. The app and site have made it simpler and more affordable for anyone to travel and find a bed for the night. But despite its convenience, it isn't perfect, and there have been plenty of times in the past where unscrupulous or dishonest hosts have used it to take serious advantage of their guests. In fact, worse than a lumpy mattress, a lack of wi-fi and a cold room are hosts that are downright criminal, and those kind are a lot more common than you might think.
Case in point, a young couple from Scotland who went on a romantic trip to the Canadian capital of Toronto were shocked to find something very secret and very disturbing hidden in their room. Their discovery ruined their vacation, but their subsequent Facebook post warning others about the dangers of Airbnb has now gone viral on social media.
Dougie Hamilton, who hails from Glasgow in Scotland, and his girlfriend had been staying in an Airbnb apartment for less than 20 minutes before he spotted something suspicious about the seemingly-innocuous alarm clock on the desk. It appeared to have a cable attached to it, much like a smartphone charger, which Dougie thought was odd considering that most alarm clocks are typically battery operated. However, on closer inspection, Dougie realised that the alarm clock was actually a spy camera which had been pointed straight at him and his girlfriend's bed!
In a later interview with British newspaper The Daily Record, Dougie stated: "In my head, I felt a bit weird even thinking it and I kept telling myself not to be daft. But there was just something. I took the charger out of it and saw there was a lithium battery in the back. At this point, I slid the front facing off the clock and could see there actually was a camera. We didn't know if the owner had been watching. It just felt really creepy and we didn't want to stay. We're innocent-minded people but the clock was facing where our bed was and we thought it might be for something more sinister like a sex ring."
Dougie's post soon managed to accrue a number of shares and comments from disturbed social media users. As a result of the post, the Toronto police department has confirmed that Canadian law enforcement is investigating the incident and treating it as a serious allegation against the owner of the apartment. Meanwhile, Dougie has stated that he has contacted Airbnb about the matter, and apparently their security team is also looking into it. Airbnb has also allegedly promised him a full refund, and intend to cancel any future reservations at the property in question. So next time you're going on a trip to somewhere unfamiliar, keep an eye out for anything out of place. And please: stay safe.
