Toronto Police Say Airbnb Rentals Being Used for Human Trafficking

Airbnb has become a massively popular platform for people to list their homes and apartments for others to use when vacationing across the globe. In the Toronto area, users can find a great place no matter the date.

Recently, the service has come under fire by Toronto Police following some pretty disturbing stories about the app. It all started after Toronto Police Sgt. Nunzio Tramontozzi noted that their department has seen an increase in human trafficking cases that are connected to Airbnb.

Airbnb is reportedly being used as a hub to conduct illegal transactions, which is highly evident in the sex trafficking industry. As expected, this is causing major concern for law enforcement in Toronto.

The police noted that because Airbnb is so easy to use, and the person renting the home can easily remain anonymous, it is making it more attractive to illegal traffickers.

Sgt. Tramontozzi outlined a case that involved two 18-year-old male “guests” and a 19-year-old woman. The woman was forced into sex trafficking by the two males. The two teens have since been apprehended and face a total of 58 different charges. The woman has also been recovered and she is safe, but undergoing medical help and support.

If you are renting your home with Airbnb, the Toronto Police are recommending that you keep alert and report anything that seems out-of-the-ordinary.

[via Metro News]

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