Vacation Rental Scams Overview
Vacation Rental Scams can happen to anyone. Are you a “scam survivor?” (I prefer not to call us victims!) Honestly, I hope you never have to experience being scammed, especially on a vacation rental. Nothing is worse than looking forward to a lovely vacation only to find out you booked a dump. Or even worse a non-existent property. Unfortunately, it’s happening more and more.
Types of vacation rental scams
Bait and switch
We decided to vacation rent our condo while traveling. I excitedly uploaded all my photos and description to Vrbo to await our first guest. A few days later, while searching for our unit, I discover that my photos and part of my description are being used to create a fraudulent listing!
This is a very common scam. The scammer shows a listing for a property they cannot provide. Our “scammed” unit is shown in the top photo for this blog post. Our opening vacation rental photo is the one you see to the left above. You have to click on the remaining photos to see the bedroom photo on the right. No other unit in the complex looks like it so there is no way the alleged “host” can rent you this unit. Our unit is remodeled and recently repainted. Clearly, this is bait and switch.
The “host” in this case is Jeffrey Thorne of Thorne Destinations. I contacted him (after reporting the fraudulent listing to both Vrbo and the FTC) demanding that he remove the fraudulent listing immediately. His response is unpleasant and condescending. After several days of emails, the listing is removed with Thorne Destinations (which I found on Nextdoor) claiming the listing “expired.”
So sorry, there’s an issue with your vacation rental.
Another common vacation rental scam, which is very similar to the one above, is to list and rent a property to an unsuspecting guest, only to claim at the last minute that some issue came up. Because of this “issue” (plumbing problem etc) a new property is substituted. Check it out first before accepting the change. Ask for pictures, details etc. If it’s a scam, and you don’t investigate, you may end up in a a place you would never choose to stay.
The ultimate vacation rental scam.
Definitely, the worst rental scam is when your supposed rental is non-existent or not a vacation rental! I’m on several “vacation” pages on FB and have read far too often how guests were scammed one way or another. The goal is to get your money before you find out you’ve been had.
We “almost” experienced this recently in Ixtapa, MX. The address for our hotel was Paseo de las Golondrinas Cluster No. 17, Ixtapa. As our taxi turned onto Paseo de las Golondrinas, we searched for house numbers and finally found #17. Much to our surprise, it was long-term occupied by a very helpful gentleman who took the time to help us research the address.
We thought “Cluster No. 17” referred to the building our hotel room was in, but in fact, “Cluster” was part of the street name. This only came to light when we called the hotel and found it was much further down the road. The sad part of this story is the renter told us several others have shown up in the past, thinking they’d rented the same place, with no idea where to go. Not sure if they ever uncovered the mix-up or not!
Other vacation rental scams.
As I looked into the extent of this issue, it became clear that scammers will try anything to get your money. Legitimate listings are copied and listed on another site, sometimes even using the original host’s name but changing the contact info.
In other cases, properties that are legitimately for sale are hijacked and photos placed on various vacation rental sites or Craigslist. These (supposedly) clever people post the property as their own. When contacted, they’ll tell you almost everything about the property – after all, the details are in the MLS listing!
Whatever you do, don’t fall for the “story” that they (the scammer) are out of country but you can still rent the house. Just wire them the funds, or Venmo or…or..and they will mail you keys or give you a lockbox code. That’s a hard NO!
You’ve been scammed! Now what?
For both hosts and guests, most vacation rental platforms have a means to report vacation rental scams. In our case, on the Vrbo website, there is a “report this property” link under the host’s name for each property. I reported the fraudulent listing every day it was active on Vrbo but (unfortunately) never heard back.
(* Before you click send, screenshot the page otherwise you have no record of your report. Once you send it, it’s gone.)
I also reported it to the Federal Trade Commission. This is easily done online by clicking here. I then reported the company to the BBB and posted a warning about the scam on social media. If you have a monetary loss, report it to your police department. I’m all for reporting/posting about the scam wherever to warn as many people as possible. Just remember to stick to the facts and leave the emotion out of it. Once you discover the scam, get screenshots to support your position.
Outsmarting the Scammers
Guests – Researching your vacation rental
Found a vacation rental you’d like to book? Do the amenities or price seem too good to be true? If it looks too good to be true, it usually is.
Want more information before you book? Contact the host. Ask detailed questions, not only about the property but about area attractions, best restaurants etc. If answers are vague or very general like “it’s got everything you need” you might want to go elsewhere.
Ask them unusual questions, like what County the property is in. Get their name then locate the appropriate tax office and search for the address to find the owner’s name. They may not match. Does it say the listing is new yet it has multiple reviews? Makes you wonder how that could be! On the other hand, if it has a review history, it’s probably a safe bet the property is “legit.”
Use Google maps to check the address and see if the area is as the host described. Google the hosts name. Look for them on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram etc. You may be surprised with what you find.
You can also contact Vrbo and ask about the rental. Customer Service is 1 (877) 202-4291 or you can go to their FB page and “message” them. We’ve used Messenger several times and have received a relatively prompt response.
Checklist before you rent
- Is the site secure? Look for the “s” in the URL – ie https is secure. http is not. Avoid it!
- Does the host ask for an “unusual” type of payment like Venmo or wiring funds etc. Pay ONLY with a credit card so you have some recourse.
- Does the host want you to go to another site to pay? Don’t do it! Stay on the hosting platform.
- Are you being asked for more information than necessary to book a vacation rental? Don’t be afraid to ask why the information is needed then decline to answer. Scammers love to steal your identity.
- Get the host’s name and property location then search the Real Property tax office (this is public information) using the “hosts” name and/or address. Does it match up with what they told you? Do the number of bedroom and bathroom match?
- Put the address into Google maps. Does it exist? Do a street view. Do the exterior pictures match up?
- Verify the host’s name. Run a reverse on their phone number. Google their name. Check Linkedin to see if they are there. See if things match up. Above all, don’t commit your $$ until you are completely satisfied.
- Do you know someone in the town you plan to visit? Call them and ask if they are familiar with the area where the rental is or the condo complex.
- Have a friend who is a real estate agent in the area? They generally know the area pretty well and can provide some info.
- Be extremely cautious renting off Craigslist. Scammers like to take properties for sale and claim them as their vacation rental.
How Hosts can deal with Vacation Rental Scammers
There really isn’t much you can do to prevent scammers from using your photos or your description but you may want to take action once it is discovered. In my case, the scammer had a website that referenced partnerships with several major hotel chains. If you suspect this is a deliberate act, (Jeffrey Thorne’s responses indicated this was a standard business practice) reach out to “partners” and associates. Let them know about their unethical business partner.
Need help finding email addresses etc of corporate offices? Elliott.org is a consumer advocate with an extensive list of company contacts. And this isn’t just for travel. He has information in many different areas.
Be vigilant and diligent in protecting your listing. Make a weekly check of Vrbo, Airbnb and Craigslist to see if any of your photos have been used to create a fraudulent listing.
Find something? Report it to the platform immediately and to as many agencies as appropriate. If you can find an email address, contact the scammer and demand they remove your photos. Keep all of your correspondence in case it is needed in the future. If it is a business, file a scam notice with the BBB. Do not give up until your photos and/or descriptive information is removed!
Safety while traveling
A few of our favorite travel items
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This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.
Well, you booked your dream vacation rental. Before you go, here are some of our favorite “safe traveler” accessories:
I love Baggalinni crossbody, zippered bags for women – here’s one of my favorites – or choose from these. Men might consider a RFID minimalist front pocket wallet, a neck wallet or choose from this selection.
Looking for a great travel vest? You can’t beat SCOTTeVEST for men and women. You can pack everything but the kitchen sink in these. Jack has two and loves both. SCOTTeVEST also has jackets, slacks, shirts, etc.
Beach/Water Vacation
Headed to a beach vacation? We bought these waterproof phone pouches for our Zihuantanejo trip. They worked great. We put our cell phone, a couple of dollar bills, credit card and DL and took it all in the water with us. Yep, and we took pictures too. No need to leave stuff lying on the beach.
Even at home, I tether my phone – when hiking I have the long tether so I can easily slip it out of my shorts pocket and quickly slide it back in. I never worry about it falling out unnoticed while out hiking. I have a shorter wrist tether that makes it super easy to find the phone in my purse. Neck and wrist tethers are often sold together.
This is the one I ordered. (Your phone needs to be in a case for this one.) The nylon is soft on your neck or wrist and easy to adjust.
There are two basic types of tethers: One has a tether tab that goes into your phone case while the other is like a phone harness. Both work well. There are many variations on these two types, even a retractable tether. All help keep your phone within your reach and out of the reach of pickpockets!
And last but not least, don’t forget to get your travel insurance. You never know when you may need it. We almost had a travel disaster and did not have insurance. You better believe we will in the future. There’ll be a future blog post on our close call!
Safe Travel Blog Posts for You
If you’d like a more extensive list of safe travel clothing and / or hints, we’ve done several blog posts. Take a look at Easy Ways to Avoid Those Pesky Travel Problems, How To Create Safe Travels or Anti-Pickpocket Travel Gear 2024.
Here’s to safe travels always. If you have a favorite product or suggestion please let us know. We’d love to add it to a blog, and acknowledge your contributions. Please like and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and here on our blog.
This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.
Great article; very informative!
Obviously well-researched and expertly written.
Thanks Kelly. I’m glad you found it informative and I hope you never have to use any of the suggestions!
Tons of helpful info, thanks for sharing!
Mahalo Allison. Glad you found it useful. Thanks for reading our blog.
What a great article. Thank you. I’d like to see about an article on those “vacation package” scams also. Those different travel packages that promise you a certain amount of trips, then disappear after you paid them, only to reappear to offer you an “upgrade” for an additional fee. Who do we report these to? We’ve been hut hard with these.
Regards,
Sandi
Aloha Sandi, Love hearing that you found the blog post helpful. Wish we could address the issue with “vacation packages” that you mentioned, but we have no experience with these.
However, if you’ve been “scammed” I recommend reporting your experience to the same entities that we mention in our blog post. Elliott.org or the FTC are both good starting points. Chris Elliott goes to bat for consumers who have lost money to unscrupulous vendors and/or consumers who are promised a refund that never materializes. Thanks for reading our blog.