Tenants fear. Scam lists of holiday homes have become increasingly popular. Fraudsters have become highly skilled in hacking in the legal real estate markets and even in the development of real lease agreements. Unfortunately, sites like Craigslist are simply not aggressive enough to challenge the tricks and methods that modern fraudsters use today. Here are some typical traps and tricks that scammers use to cheat on vacation victims:
Too good to be true If renting a vacation holiday is too good to be true, you can be the next victim. If the price is much lower than other listings, or convenience seems too attractive for the price, you can expect fraud. Legitimate vacation homes are usually sold at competitive prices with other similar properties.
Bait and switch , Scammers love to publish glamorous photos of holiday homes and their surroundings. The photographs include large, spacious rooms, state-of-the-art kitchens, luxurious pools and spas, and a well-kept landscape with beautiful tree-lined streets. These properties will always be somehow inaccessible, and the rest will then be redirected to another, less desirable property. Therefore, always ask for a specific address and house number, then use tools such as Google Maps to find actual photos of the object and the neighborhood. Better yet, ask the agent to use web tools, such as FaceTime or Skype, to show you what's alive.
Double Book Fraud , The fraudsters will book the property twice, and then send the rest, who will arrive last, to a backup copy of the second order, as well as sincere apologies.
Earn money now and save fraud , Fraudsters often ask for money in advance, often in the form of "pledge". And they want you to use money transfer systems, such as MoneyGram, or ask you to link money to a specific bank account. If you have to send money to “save property”, use a credit card or PayPal, both allow you to dispute any fraudulent payments.
No links or fake links. , Fraudsters will not have legal links to give you. They either offer you a “privacy justification”, stating that their previous tenants want to keep their privacy, or just give you the phone numbers of their buddies who are being scammed. Therefore, before you decide to book, let the property owner or manager call and ask for references. You can also view reviews related to Facebook.
Fake positive reviews Fake or insincere reviews are a problem on some holiday home listings. Articles on “non-differentiation” begin to appear in rental contracts, which means that tenants cannot publish negative reviews about property. So read these reviews with salt. Use Google Maps and Street View to get rid of any false statements about “stunning property” or a great location just steps from the beach, resort or conference center. Call the owner or property manager and use tools such as FaceTIme to show actual home interiors.
Inaccurate online calendar , Online calendars for many holiday homes can be poorly preserved. Most of them are an afterthought for some property owners. Even if the listing shows that the calendar has been recently updated, call or write to the owner / manager and make sure that the property is available on the date you want.
No professional real estate manager , According to the travel advisor, 37% of consumers are worried that they will not have an emergency contact if something goes wrong in a holiday home. Property managers ensure that the holiday home is updated and in good condition. They have relationships with reputable subcontractors who can handle any property problem that arises. The property manager can ensure that the property is pledged in the same way as the pledge for the property will be handled safely.
Hidden fees For most vacations, a non-negotiable “cleaning fee” is required, and some even require tenants to pay utility bills, cable and / or Internet. So make sure you know all the actual and potential fees before you complete your booking.
Nonprofessional listing , Beware of lists or letters that are poorly written with bad grammar. These can be red flags. The same applies to foreign telephone numbers, or if the owner / owner manager cannot quickly reply to emails.
Avoid Craigslist Do not use sites like Craigslist. Check out and book your property directly from reputable vacation spots.
