A woman has warned her fellow single ladies about an alleged new plot men are using to score free accommodation - as thousands of people flock to the US for the World Cup.

In a now-viral video posted to TikTok, influencer Emily Durham, who goes by the moniker @offtheclockemily on the platform, claimed that men were treating dating apps like Airbnb and matching with women in an attempt to find free room and board.

The Toronto-based social media star claimed her friend recently matched with a guy on the app who asked to stay at her house the entire weekend because he had a social engagement in the area and lived an hour away.

'She matched with this guy, just her type, she was super excited, he lived, like, an hour away from where she lived, fine,' Durham began.

'He said, "Let me take you out for a date this weekend." She's like, "I would love that."'

However, according to Durham, the man then said that the 'only catch' was that he felt like he 'might need' to stay over her house.

'She was like, "No, I don't know you,"' Durham continued.

'And then he's like, "Yeah, I have a social engagement in your neighborhood on the Sunday and I think Friday night, it might just make sense for me to stay over."'

As Durham's friend considered the plan, the suitor then added that he 'wasn't looking for anything serious' or long-term and just wanted to spend the weekend with her.

'[Men] are using Hinge like Airbnb,' Durham said, referencing the online marketplace that's used primarily to book short-term accommodations around the world.

In the comment section of her TikTok video, many users began to put together that some men may be doing this in order to have free accommodation while they travel for World Cup games.

'Especially for the World Cup,' one user wrote.

Another chimed in: 'The World Cup brought out a lot of guys.'

'Dating apps are NOT for dating. That’s been clear,' someone else typed.

Others detailed similar experiences. 

'I matched with one guy who then sent me a long meandering voice note saying he was gonna visit NYC for a week but didn’t have a place to stay yet. I just unmatched,' another viewer shared.

Someone else revealed: 'Oh I had a man I matched with ask me to PICK HIM UP FROM LAX. He said it could be an "epic first date" so it’s Uber now too.'

The video comes as the toxic dating trends of 2026 were revealed by Robyn Alesich, co–founder of polyamorous dating app Sister Wives, to the Daily Mail.

One is called 'date stacking,' which refers to scheduling multiple dates in a single day or weekend to optimize time and efficiency.

'Date–stacking can feel practical, especially when signed up to multiple dating apps and want to maximize your chance of connection,' Alesich said.

'However, this trend encourages people to compare dates side by side, potentially reducing them to a personality trait or a physical feature.'

Another toxic dating trend on her list was something called a 'choremance.'

'When you and your partner do errands together instead of traditional romantic activities, this is called "choremance,"' she explained. 

'A choremance appeals to a very busy and burnt out generation of daters.'