Renters beware. Fraud vacation home listings have become increasingly popular. Scammers have become quite adept at hacking into legitimate real estate databases and even drafting actual leases. Unfortunately, websites like Craigslist simply aren’t aggressive enough to challenge the tricks and techniques used by today’s sophisticated scammers. Here are some typical traps and tricks scammers use to defraud vacation home victims:
Too good to be true. If your vacation home rental seems too good to be true, you could be its next victim. If the price is much lower than other listings or the amenities seem too lavish for the price, you can expect a scam. Legitimate vacation homes are often priced on the market competitively with other similar properties.
bait and switch. Scammers love to post glamorous photos of vacation homes and their surroundings. Photos show spacious, spacious rooms, ultra-modern kitchens, luxurious pools and spas, and well-manicured landscaping with beautiful tree-lined streets. These properties will always be somehow unavailable, and the tourist will be diverted to another, less desirable property. So always ask for the specific address and house number, then use tools like Google Maps to find actual photos of the property and neighborhood. Better yet, ask the agent to use web tools like FaceTime or Skype to show you the property live.
double book scam. Scammers double-book a property and then send the last-arriving tourist to second-rate backup, along with sincerest apologies from him.
Transfer money now and save scam. Scammers often ask for money up front, often in the form of a “security deposit.” And they will want you to use money transfer systems like MoneyGram, or they will ask you to transfer money to a specific bank account. If you must send money to “save the property,” use a credit card or PayPal; both allow you to dispute any fraudulent charges.
No references or false references. Scammers won’t have legitimate referrals to give you. They will offer you the “privacy excuse”, saying that their previous tenants want to keep their privacy, or simply give you the phone numbers of their friends who are involved in the scam. So before you decide to book, call the owner or property manager and ask for references. You can also check the reviews linked to Facebook.
false positive feedback. Fake or fake reviews are a problem on some vacation home listings. “No disparagement” clauses are starting to appear in vacation rental contracts, meaning renters can’t post negative reviews of a property. So please read these reviews with a grain of salt. Use Google Maps and Street View to eliminate any false claims of “stunning property” or great location just steps from the beach, resort or convention center. Call the owner or property manager and use tools like FaceTime to reveal the actual interiors of the homes.
inaccurate online calendar. The online calendars of many vacation homes can be poorly maintained. Most are an afterthought for some owners. Even if the listing shows that the calendar was recently updated, please call or email the owner/manager and make sure the property is available on the date you need it.
No professional property manager. According to Trip Advisor, 37% of consumers worry that they won’t have an emergency contact if something goes wrong at a vacation home. Property managers make sure that a vacation home is kept up to date and in good condition. They have relationships with reputable subcontractors who can handle any property issues that arise. A property manager can ensure that a property will be as advertised and that a property’s deposit will be handled safely.
hidden charges. Most vacation rentals require a non-negotiable “cleaning fee,” and some even require renters to pay for utilities, cable, and/or internet. So make sure you know all the actual and potential fees before you finalize your reservation.
non-professional listing. Beware of listings or emails that are misspelled with bad grammar. These can be red flags. The same applies to foreign phone numbers, or if the owner/property manager doesn’t respond quickly to emails.
Avoid Craigslist. Don’t use sites like Craigslist. Browse and book properties directly from reputable vacation home rental sites.
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