06/02/2026
Don’t let scammers ruin your vacation! Even when booking with a reputable site, scammers can still take advantage of you and your vacation. Reports have been made of criminals posting fake vacation listings on websites such as Airbnb, VRBO, and Homestay. Many times, they will steal photos from legitimate listings to make their fake listings seem real.
So, how does the scam work? The criminals will request a down payment at the time of the booking. Once they have your money, they may cancel your booking at the last minute, or when you arrive at your rental you will find that the place is already occupied or doesn’t exist at all.
➡️Only book through legitimate websites that offer fraud protection and secure payments.
➡️Take steps to ensure that the property actually exists. Look up the address in a map service or, if you know someone who lives in the area, have them check out the address for you.
➡️Do a search of the property before booking. If you find multiple listings with different contact names, that could be a red flag.
➡️Only pay through the reputable booking website. Don’t send cash, personal check, wire transfer, or moneygram.
