Camps Bay in Cape Town is a popular attraction with plenty of holiday accommodation listings, however, exercise caution when booking. Picture: Unsplash
The holiday rental and accommodation booking platform, Booking.com, has issued an apology following reports that American solo traveller Ariel Lyndsey was scammed multiple times while using their service.
“We take safety and security very seriously, with a number of measures in place to verify properties before they begin welcoming guests. We were sorry to hear about this experience,” stated a spokesperson from Booking.com.
Lyndsey took to TikTok to share not only her personal disappointment but also a warning for fellow globetrotters about the potential dangers lurking within popular booking platforms.
Despite her extensive experience with Booking.com, which had never led her astray before, she fell victim to deceptive listings twice in Camps Bay.
“So I’m pretty sure I was scammed,” Lyndsey explained in a poignant video, which showed her waiting outside an unresponsive house she had booked and paid for online.
“I arrived, and the door wasn’t answered, even though my booking was confirmed on the app.”
@ariellyndsey scam story time: will do an update w what ended up happening I realized I was still all over the place and didn’t finish the story 😭
♬ original sound - ariellyndsey
TikTok users highlighted that the incident compromised Lyndsey's safety. Fortunately, her Uber driver chose not to leave her side during the ordeal.
In a follow-up post, she expressed her feelings: “Still have beef with Booking.com tho 😤 genuinely grateful for everyone who checked in and reached out! I’ve been through weirder and much worse after living in LA for five years.
“I’m a tougher cookie than I look, guys 😩😂. I met some amazing people in the process and will post some helpful resources and information I learned along the way for anyone travelling, as well as how to deal with situations like this or any sketchy circumstances when travelling!
“So grateful for my guardian angel Uber drivers.”
@ariellyndsey Replying to @Laylah🍉 ♬ original sound - ariellyndsey
In response to the incident, Booking.com stated that in the unlikely event of a concern regarding a specific property, they always investigate and can remove accommodations from their platform.
“Should customers have any questions or concerns about a property, we encourage them to contact our 24/7 customer service team for support and assistance,” the spokesperson added.