‘What are you going to do about this Airbnb?’: Woman goes to Texas Airbnb. Then someone bursts into the residence using her keycode
Airbnb originally intended to provide the comforts and luxuries while traveling. Essentially, a home away from home. However, this reputation has transformed into harrowing over the last few years. Now, one woman shared her nightmarish experience with an Airbnb in Texas.
An Intrusive Airbnb Encounter
“Hi, guys. I’m at 1809 [Trent] Circle in Bryan, Texas,” TikTok creator Veronica Abel (@povron7) says, standing outside the Airbnb. “Look it up just so you know that’s what they do here.”
Then, she reveals what happened. “They prey on girls like me,” she says. “They go to these places themselves so they can literally bust in with your key code.” Angry, the content creator demands, “What are you going to do about this, Airbnb?” However, this has occurred before. “This is the third time that pest control has let themselves into my Airbnbs when I’m in the Airbnb checked in already.”
Viewers Offer Suggestions
The video has racked up over 33,000 views, with many urging Abel to take action.
“Escalate it with airbnb, and talk to someone in the US not india. India just want to close the files fast,” one viewer advised.
“What about getting a deadbolt lock at Home Depot? They probably have temporary ones you can install yourself,” another proposed.
“You got this girl! Stay strong and [positive]! This is so wild!! Contact air bnb and get your refund plus some! I cannot believe this!!” a third suggested.
Meanwhile, others expressed their fear of using Airbnb.
“I had an air bnb who had cameras inside that we found and when we contacted Airbnb the told us the owner required us to leave. No explanation, no nothing. I made a police report and never used Airbnb again,” one commenter recalled.
“Usually we Airbnb with my in laws so there’s about 10 of us in total. When it’s just me and my girlfriends I’m on high alert the whole time for stuff like this. Why is this where we’re at?” a second revealed.
Furthermore, this isn’t the first time strangers have burst into an occupied Airbnb. In November, The Mary Sue reported on a woman and her friends staying at a Nashville Airbnb where they were woken up at 3 am by a shirtless man entering the unit. Since hosts can give active access codes to anyone they please, a former one believes that could’ve been the case.
“I used to host [on Airbnb]. That’s for sure your host giving out a master door code rather than taking your email and generating a code via Latch that expires the second your reservation ends. I hate that,” they said.
A Series Of Unfortunate Events
Abel provided an update from a different location.
“I posted a video that I since deleted saying that Airbnb was helping me with this situation,” she says in a follow-up clip. “He fell off. He’s nowhere to be found.”
As a result, she had to take matters into her own hands. “I had to use the last ten dollars [to Uber] myself here,” she shares. When she arrived at the new place, she was met with another roadblock. “I get here and I can’t get into this new one. I’m telling you guys, this is the devil’s work,” the content creator concluded.
How To Spot Airbnb Scam Listings
Like with almost anything on the internet, there are scammers lurking in the shadows hoping to swindle unsuspecting victims. If you’re thinking about booking your next stay through the platform, Reader’s Digest lists how to protect yourself from fraudulent listings:
- Search the address online
- Reverse image search the photos
- Question the ‘too good to be true’ offers
- Find properties with hundreds of reviews
- Research the laws around short-term rentals if you’re staying in one
- Never interact with hosts outside of Airbnb
- Snap photos as proof if the destination isn’t up to standard
@povron7 ♬ original sound – POVron
The Mary Sue reached out to Abel via Instagram direct message and TikTok comment as well as Airbnb via press email.
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