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Booking vacation rentals safely: Avoid these mistakes
The anticipation for a vacation is huge after the long break due to COVID-19 - professional scammers are taking advantage of this. Especially when booking vacation rentals, you should look very carefully.
Travel is once again possible in many places - all that's missing is the right accommodation! Vacation rentals and vacation homes are especially popular among those eager to travel. But it's important to look closely here. Scammers could use the renewed travel interest to post fake listings.
Consumer advocates warn against 'rose-colored glasses'
Fraud cases have long been a 'perennial issue' in this segment, says Karolina Wojtal, spokesperson for the European Consumer Center Germany (EVZ). However, due to the great desire to travel, customers are currently at increased risk of 'unconsciously looking through rose-colored glasses' when searching for and booking vacation rentals, the consumer advocate continues.
Additionally, the fraud traps have become significantly more professional in the past two years. 'There's a noticeable improvement in quality. Especially with their own websites, it's often difficult to notice false information at first glance,' says Wojtal.
Recognizing the tricks of vacation scammers
First basic rule: When searching for and booking vacation rentals, consumer advocates recommend taking 'special caution'. So: take your time and double or triple-check all content.
To recognize fraud attempts, you should be wary of these points:
- The rent is unusually cheap.
- Only an email address is provided. The name, address, and phone number of the landlord or landlady are missing, as are detailed descriptions of the rental property.
- The provider demands that communication takes place outside the real estate portal.
- The entire rent is to be paid in advance.
- A discount is promised for immediate payment.
- Payment is to be made via bank transfer or money transfer services like Western Union or Money Gram.
What to watch out for when booking
As tempting as the offer may be: Once you pay, the money is out of your hands. Therefore, when booking and paying, you should follow these tips from the Consumer Center:
- Avoid offers that are too good to be true.
- Never pay the total price upfront.
- Do not use cash transfer services or SEPA transfers.
- Better to pay by credit card or direct debit - and if possible, in cash on-site.
- Email and payment should only be conducted through the booking platform's channels to ensure there's proof. Portals also require this if it comes to reclaiming money in the event of fraud.
- If in doubt: contact the provider by phone and ask for more information.
- Read user reviews from other travelers.
- Verify the address of the vacation rental via Google Maps or another mapping service. Is the advertised rental actually located there? Can the details be true?
Were you defrauded? Contact the police immediately!
Suspect a fraud attempt? Then you can seek advice and help from a Consumer Center near you or from the European Consumer Center Germany.
If you have been a victim of fraud, you should contact the police and the portal operator as soon as possible and try to recover your money. That's why the Consumer Center generally advises paying by credit card: 'In case of fraud, the money can be claimed back from the bank.'
Travel Reporter