Getaway Gotchas

Crooks prey on tenants and property owners alike.

A couple who live in a popular vacation destination often rents out a cottage on their property when it's not in use by a family member. A scammer agreed to book a nine-day stay in the cottage. When the rental advance check arrived, the amount was $1000 more than it should have been. The Scammer told the landlord to deposit the check then send a refund for the amount in excess of the agreed price, which she did. Several days after the deposit, the bank notified her that the check was fraudulent. She'd already sent the "extra" $1000 to the scammer. That money was gone forever.

Although the specifics may vary, sending a bogus check for more than the agreed price then demanding the seller send a refund for the overage is a commonly used trick by scammers. Trusting people fall for this trick all the time in a wide variety of transactions.

Rental property owners are the largest target in vacation rental scams. Scammers also try to get the log-in and other credentials of property owners to pose as them to solicit rental fees. It is a matter of let the buyer beware.

Vacation rental scams have traditionally targeted people seeking to rent a property.

Crooks steal photos and descriptions of properties for sale on real estate websites, then advertise rentals at rock-bottom prices. After a deal is struck — typically by email — renters are asked for payment up front. When they arrive they discover that the rental doesn't exist, or that the actual owner isn't renting it. In addition to lost payments — as estimated $18.5 million per year — renters risk identity theft from disclosures they have made on bogus application forms.


Check the description. Copy a chunk of descriptive text from the ad and paste it into a search engine. If it's found to be lifted from a home sale listing, assume the rental offer is a scam.

Run an online search of the property's address. Look up names, emails and phone numbers of the supposed landlord or agent. Red flags: The property is for sale, not rent; it has a nonexistent address; the listed address is for a business.

Ask the landlord for proof of identity and ownership. A copy of a driver's license is good for checking property records at the recorder of deeds or assessor's office, to see if the names match. You can also order detailed reports about landlords and properties at www.CheckYourLandlord.com for a fee. If dealing with a self-described agent, ask for proof of authority to sign a lease.

Search for past victims. When people answer rental postings, property owners should search respondents' names and addresses on the Internet, to see if someone has scammed landlords in the past using the same information.

Map it. Use an online search engine's map function for an aerial and street-level view of the address, to determine that the property exists.

Deal by phone. Avoid people who want to communicate solely by email, as email addresses are easy to fake.

Use plastic. A sure sign of a scam is a request for payment up front by wire transfer or prepaid debit card. Your safer bet is to pay with a credit card via PayPal or use the payment transfer service at websites such as VRBO and Airbnb.com.

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