An Airbnb guest in Surrey, British Columbia, shares a creepy interaction with the host, leading her to check the house for cameras during her stay.
In a video with over 48,000 views, TikToker Brielle (@brie.like.the.cheeese) posts a screenshot of the in-app chat between her and the Airbnb host.
“You know Brielle, I was interested in asking you out to coffee. However, I’m in Thailand. When’s the next time you’ll be in town?” the host asks.
On-screen text reads, “That one time my Airbnb host asked me for coffee while I was staying in his place.” The caption continues, “Glad he was in Thailand. Yes, I checked for cameras.”
Airbnb does not allow security cameras inside any properties listed on the site as of March 2024, according to its website. Hosts must disclose any outdoor cameras or noise detectors as well. Despite the policy change, some guests have noticed indoor cameras at the Airbnbs, posting their concerns on Reddit.
Did she report the host to Airbnb?
In response to a comment urging her to bring the issue up with Airbnb, she says she plans to.
“I was so scared to in case he came after me somehow, but now that it’s been a bit, I am going to. I’ll update if they do anything!” she writes.
Brielle explains that she felt unsafe, even though the host was in Thailand.
“Do you not see the unprofessionalism here? It made me wonder if he had cameras. I genuinely started to think I was going to have someone come and kidnap and traffic me,” she writes, noting that the area she was staying in has a reputation for human trafficking.
What did viewers think about the interaction?
In the comments, other women respond to the alarming message from the Airbnb host.
“No no no no noooooooo why are they like this damn leave us alone,” one writes.
“Proof they watch us,” another says.
“So unprofessional and a safety risk,” a third adds.
Redditors on r/Airbnb share similar creepy messages from hosts. One says the host messaged her, “You look great today,” after entering the house to fix a light. Commenters suggest leaving the Airbnb entirely.
“I hope you have others options, if you feel unsafe it’s not worth staying there much longer,” a commenter says.
“If you’re there alone, honestly I’d leave. He’s got a key and he knows you’re there overnight. Even with a very low likelihood of him actually coming by and entering the house, I don’t think I’d be able to relax or sleep well,” another writes.
“Totally inappropriate and unacceptable. You need to report this behavior/interaction ASAP and leave right away,” a third suggests.
The Mary Sue reached out to Airbnb and Brielle for further comment.
Update: July 31, 2025
In an email to The Mary Sue, an Airbnb spokesperson says, “We have reached out to this poster, so we can review this. In the rare event of a safety concern during a stay, we provide a 24 Hour Safety Line for guests to directly reach our specialized Safety team for support, including with rebooking.”
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