The Red Flags of Vacation Scams
Rental scams are a very real thing and can lead to a ruined trip and financial loss. These scams include fake listings, double booking, bait-and-switch tactics, and more. Don’t let one of these scammers ruin your summer fun.
How they work
- Fake Listings
- Scammers list properties that don’t exist using stolen photos and descriptions
- Double Booking
- Property owners’ book multiple guests for the same dates.
- Bait-and-Switch
- Guests are lured in with appealing pictures and descriptions only to find the property is lower quality or non-existent.
- Payment Redirection
- You are pressured to pay outside of the usual platform, often times bypassing security measures.
- Fake Owners
- Scammers post properties they don’t owner and ask for untraceable payment methods.
- Account Takeover
- Hackers hack into legitimate platforms.
How to Avoid Vacation Rental Scams
- Verify the Property
- Search other sites for the same listing and do a reverse image search of photos.
- Contact the Owner/Host
- Reach out before booking to ask questions and verify their identity.
- Get a Rental Agreement
- Ask for a written agreement outlining the terms of the stay.
- Use a Secure Form of Payment
- Avoid wire transfers or other forms of untraceable payment. Use a credit card when possible.
- Be Wary of Red Flags
- Watch out for listings that are too good to be true, reviews that are glowing or seem robotic, or there is a lack of reviews.
- Use a Reputable Platform
- Stay with established platforms.
Think you are a victim?
- Immediately contact the rental platform. They may have procedures to deal with fraud.
- Notify your bank or credit card company to see if they can dispute the charges.
- File a report with law enforcement. If the property is located outside North Carolina, contact the Attorney General's office for that particular state.
- Report scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Document everything. Gaither all transaction information, property listing details and any other communications you may have regarding the rental.
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