The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is reminding vacationers to be cautious when renting vacation homes because they may be clicking on a scam. Scammers will use real locations and pictures to advertise a fake listing. The scammers will have you make a payment upfront. After payment is made, you may experience two things upon arrival: the property is not real or it’s unavailable for your reservation dates.
Signs the Listing Might Be a Scam
If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Compare the price of other rentals in the area for that time of year. If the rental is way cheaper than others, it is probably a scam. If the owner/manager of the property is refusing to use a legitimate rental platform, that’s a red flag. If you are pressured to pay quickly, it is probably a scam. Scammers will push a sense of urgency that makes people buy first, ask questions later. Don’t fall for it.
How to Avoid Rental Scams
Use a reputable platform. Make sure the website is legit before booking. If you haven’t heard of that platform before and there aren’t a lot of reviews, don’t use it. Search for the property online. Verifying the listing you’re looking at is real through reviews, reverse image search, and comparing listings online. If there are multiple listings or the information does not match, it may be a scam. Rental managers should not be requesting payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer. These methods are irreversible. Make sure to pay with a credit card.
If You Get Scammed
Contact the booking company immediately. Report the scam to your bank. Save all documentation of the property, payment details, and communication with the renter.
If you’re a victim of this type of scam, report it to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (239) 477-1000 or your local law enforcement agency.