An influencer and model claims to have been gifted a teddy bear stuffed with an Apple AirTag.
Carol Souza has hit the headlines in the past for offering up a ‘rent-a-wife’ service and sharing her ‘hot-wife’ life – a term used to describe a woman who sleeps with other men with her partner’s permission.
She also has 8,500 followers on Instagram, where she shares saucy pics, bikini photoshoots, and clips of her everyday life.
Recently, the 38-year-old received a gift from one of her fans, which she says happens every now and then.
But this time round the gift, a teddy bear, wasn’t like a regular cuddly toy – it had a tracking device stuffed inside.
“At first, I thought it was just another kind gesture,” Carol, from Rio Claro, São Paulo in Brazil, told Need To Know.
“It took me a few days to realise something was off when I noticed a poorly finished seam on one of the bear’s paws.
“That’s when I decided to investigate and found the AirTag hidden inside.”
The small Apple device is designed to help users track personal items like keys and wallets using the ‘Find My’ app on iPhones.
She said: “In my case, the AirTag had been cleverly hidden inside the teddy bear.
“It has raised my concerns about privacy and safety.
“It’s common for followers to send gifts as a sign of affection but after this, I started thinking about how vulnerable we can be to stalkers.”
The incident has left Carol feeling very uneasy.
She said: “I felt extremely shocked and uncomfortable, it was as if my privacy had been completely invaded.
“It’s a very strange and scary feeling to know someone was trying to track me.”
The model believes it could be because of some sort of fantasy.
She said: “The big issue is that we create a fantasy world in the minds of some followers.
“They may not realise that the woman behind the images has a real life.
“And even though we’re part of that world, it’s just a fragment of our reality.”
Now, she says she is much more aware when it comes to receiving items in the post.
She said: “I’ve become much more cautious about accepting gifts.
“Although I know most fans have good intentions, this event has made me rethink my relationship with the gifts I receive.”
Over the years, Carol says she has received plenty of presents which haven’t caused her harm.
She said: “I’ve received all kinds of gifts from luxury items to more unusual gifts.
“I’ve been given kitchen pots, a bible and even a set of vibrators.
“It’s funny to see how fans express their affection and admiration in different ways.”
The total value of gifts she has received adds up to around £23,100.
She added: “Many of them are luxury items, like handbags and shoes, which tend to have significant value.”
But for now she plans on returning the teddy bear.
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