"Arrr, me mateys! Be wary of scurvy dogs and bilge rats when searchin' for holiday lodgings!"
2023-06-23
"Avast ye! Before ye be parting with yer hard-earned doubloons for a holiday shack, be sure to scour the guest reviews, verify the price be not a swindle, and give the website listing a good eyeing over. Aye, ye don't want to be walking the plank of a vacation rental scam!"
Avast ye mateys, we've been warned by one of our readers, Kurt from Victorville, California, about a vacation rental scam. His brother-in-law owns a property in Fiji and a scammer created a fake listing for it on booking.com. The scammer tried to trick a potential renter into making a wire payment to an overseas bank. Luckily, the renter double-checked before sending the payment and avoided being scammed. To avoid similar situations, it's important to look for red flags before booking a rental. Firstly, check the reviews of the property on the booking site, and be wary of listings with little to no reviews. Verify that the lister has a profile with a photo and description, and beware if they refuse to identify themselves. Look out for listings with significantly lower prices than others in the area, as they may be a scam. Always use traceable payment methods such as electronic deposits, credit cards, or checks, and avoid cash payments or wire transfers. Be cautious if you find the same listing with different contact information on various sites. Trust your instincts and avoid suspicious properties or pushy listers. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Stay safe out there, landlubbers!