A woman fled an Airbnb stay when she learned of the host’s dark history of sex crimes, but was furious when she was later denied a refund.
Natasha Harrington booked to stay at Winston Nguyen’s home in Harlem, New York, which is listed on Airbnb, but when she arrived, another tenant knocked on her door and told her to Google his name.
Harrington was then horrified to recognize that her host who had just greeted her moments earlier, Nguyen, is facing charges accused of soliciting sexually explicit photographs from teenagers.
Natasha Harrington booked to stay at Winston Nguyen’s Harlem home listed on Airbnb, but when she arrived, another tenant knocked on her door and told her to Google his name.
Nguyen, 37, was accused of allegedly posing as a teenager on social media eleven times between October 2022 and May 2024 in an attempt to convince students to send him sexual images.
She had said in a Reddit post that she had initially found him “very nice and charming,” but everything changed when she heard a light knock on the door.
At the door was a man who had seen her enter the apartment building and asked her why she was there, which Harrington dismissed.
He told her: ‘I’m trying to be very discreet. I found out a few things about this man and he is not a good person. Google his name. He is a pedophile. And they’re evicting it, so I don’t know how long you’ll be here.
Nguyen, 37, was accused of allegedly posing as a teenager on social media eleven times between October 2022 and May 2024, according to the police. Independentin an attempt to convince students to send him sexual images.
“I was really scared,” she said. Gothamist. Harrington, who works as a preschool teacher in Manhattan, then contacted her sister and her partner to reveal her situation.
She told the outlet that she went to sleep “feeling uncomfortable,” fled in the morning with all her belongings, and contacted Airbnb to receive a refund for the $1,600 cost.
Harrington then spent a grueling few days trying to contact customer service and find someone who could help her, but was furious when the company told her the situation did not violate Airbnb’s refund policy.
An Airbnb spokesperson stated: “The safety of our community is a priority and we have been in contact with our guests to assist them, including providing a full refund.” The host was removed from the platform in accordance with our policies.
Nguyen has pleaded not guilty and his next court appearance is scheduled for October 17.
The company advised Harrington to contact the host, as is policy at that stage, telling Gothamist: “It was extremely frustrating and I felt like even the people I was talking to weren’t really willing to do anything about it.” “. the situation. Everyone was asking me, “Well, have you talked to the host?” – which, of course, I didn’t talk to him about.
Screenshots showed Harrington’s attempts to explain the situation, including providing links to Nguyen’s charges, the outlet reported, but the customer service members he spoke to were clear.
“As much as I would love to shorten your stay and process the refund for you, since the host had not given me authorization to process any refunds, I will not be able to continue,” one message read.
Harrington was continually told that the situation “does not qualify under our refund policy” and that the decision was in the hands of the host, who had said he was in compliance with the cancellation policy and refused to offer a refund.
She took the matter to Reddit and, after describing what happened, they urged her to contact local media.
Airbnb, 25 minutes after learning of its plans, said it “takes these reports seriously and is currently investigating,” Harrington wrote on Reddit.
Hours after Gothamist contacted Airbnb, Harrington was granted a refund and, according to an Airbnb spokesperson, Nguyen was removed from the platform.
An Airbnb spokesperson stated: “The safety of our community is a priority and we have been in contact with our guests to assist them, including providing a full refund.” The host was removed from the platform in accordance with our policies.’
In 2019, Danger! The contestant was also charged and jailed at Rikers Island for four months after stealing $300,000 from a 96-year-old blind man and his 92-year-old wife, who have since died.
Nguyen had worked as a math teacher for the $60,000-a-year private St. Ann’s School in Brooklyn since 2020.
Nguyen used the stolen $300,000 to buy expensive ballet tickets, Broadway shows and trips to Florida with his friends.
Nguyen had worked as a math teacher for the $60,000-a-year private St. Ann’s School in Brooklyn since 2020 and “the school immediately placed him on leave and he remains on leave,” Daily Mail reported.
In 2019, Danger! The contestant was also charged and jailed at Rikers Island for four months after stealing $300,000 from a 96-year-old blind man and his 92-year-old wife, who have since died.
Nguyen was hired in 2009 to help the blind man and his wife with daily chores, and used the stolen money to buy expensive ballet tickets, Broadway shows and trips to Florida with his friends.
Harrington said she hopes policies are put in place to protect her from situations like hers in the future.
She told Gothamist: “It’s completely unfair to leave it up to the host whether they want to refund someone or not when they’re the problem.”
Airbnb shared that after an investigation, they worked to address Harrington’s issue, saying, “we determined that more support was needed…as part of our support, we have assisted with rebooking costs.”
Nguyen, according to Airbnb’s statement, had no prior reports of security-related concerns and the company “enforces structural policies that govern who can have an account.”
Airbnb also stated that it conducts standard criminal background checks for hosts and guests in the US, looking for convictions.
Nguyen has pleaded not guilty and his next court appearance is scheduled for October 17.
