A young couple who recently visited an Airbnb in Pennsylvania is accusing the hosts of scamming them. They claimed they arrived to find their booking had been cancelled after spending about $440 for a two-night stay.
The incident reportedly took place in Montgomery County in Philadelphia. Based on information shared by the couple in a series of TikTok posts, the boyfriend initially booked the property for three guests, but the group later expanded to include two additional adults, whom he said were his cousins, and then his children, a newborn and a one-year-old. He said his cousins had only come to drop off the children but stayed after sensing that something was off about the situation.
The boyfriend said they were unable to access the home at first because they were not given the keypad code. It was only after realizing the keypad was not actually locked that they managed to get inside. Not long after they settled in, however, a man suddenly entered the home without warning.
According to the boyfriend, the man first claimed to be a neighbor before changing his story and saying he was security. He then began telling the group they needed to leave the property immediately. The situation escalated into a tense back-and-forth, with the guests refusing to leave since they had already paid and had nowhere else to go on such short notice.
With tensions rising, the group eventually called the police.
The Guests Were Forced Out Without a Refund
When officers arrived, the guests explained everything that had happened. It is unclear what actions were taken that night, but the boyfriend claimed officers told them this was not the first time they had been called to the property over a similar situation.
The group ended up spending the night inside the home, sleeping on the couch and floor. The next morning, they were forced to wait outside for about “five hours in the cold and rain” while trying to figure out their next move.
Officers also returned that morning and contacted the co-host, Rachel, who pleaded with them to remove the group from the area. “I’m begging you, I’m pleading with you all, please escort them away from the neighborhood,” the woman said through the phone.
However, one of the officers pushed back, explaining that the group was not causing any problems and was simply trying to figure out where to go next. He told the co-host they were not on her property and that, with a newborn present, forcing them to leave immediately would only put them in a worse position.
Still, the woman remained adamant on the phone that they should leave.
Netizens Weigh In On the Philadelphia Airbnb Incident
People in the comments largely expressed concern over what the family went through. One person wrote, “People are so heartless omg I hope you guys are ok.” Another agreed with the couple, saying the situation “sounds like a scam.” A third shared, “This is why I am scared to book a [sic] airbnb for this reason.”
Some also praised the officers for how they handled the situation. “Thank you officers for advocating for this family!! 🥰,” one comment read, while another added, “The officers were very professional and nice.”
However, not everyone was fully on the group’s side. Some felt the couple had violated the agreement by bringing in more than three guests. “Yall made the reservation for 3 adults. there are 4 adults and 2 babies in the video with the MIB,” one netizen commented.
It’s still unclear why the couple were ultimately asked to leave. Whether it was an attempted scam or a violation of policy has not been confirmed. As of their most recent update, the group says they are still trying to secure a refund.
