{"id":416,"date":"2025-06-24T12:01:47","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T12:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.schofields.ltd.uk\/?p=416"},"modified":"2025-06-24T13:52:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T13:52:27","slug":"how-to-check-for-bogus-holiday-rentals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schofields.ltd.uk\/blog\/416\/how-to-check-for-bogus-holiday-rentals\/","title":{"rendered":"Avoiding Villa Booking Scams on Vrbo, Airbnb & Booking.com"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 7<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"\"<\/p>\n

The internet has revolutionised how we book holidays, and it\u2019s easy to be drawn in by the lure of a great deal. However, if the price is too good to be true it invariably is.<\/p>\n

Scammers are ramping up their efforts by using sophisticated and convincing methods to trick travellers into paying for non-existent holidays. According to Action Fraud, in 2024 victims lost a total of over \u00a311 million to holiday fraud with the average loss per victim being \u00a31,851.<\/p>\n

Often victims do not realise they have been scammed until the fraudster stops replying to messages, or worse, victims arrive at the holiday accommodation to discover there\u2019s no booking or the villa does not exist.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re planning on booking a holiday, we’ve listed the most common holiday booking scams and how you can avoid them.<\/p>\n

The different types of holiday booking scams<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Phishing<\/strong><\/span>
\nPhishing scams occur when holiday let hosts are sent an email or text that appears to be legitimate, encouraging them to click on a link to log into their listing site account. The link usually takes them to a fake website which collects password details.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, hosts are tricked into opening an email attachment which is a computer virus.<\/p>\n

The scammers then gain access to the host\u2019s listing site account, change the payment details and lure guests into paying by bank transfer off the booking site\u2019s platform where there\u2019s no protection.<\/p>\n

Fake accommodation deals<\/span>
\n<\/strong>Scammers post accommodation adverts on Facebook Marketplace with enticing deals such as \u201cdue to a recent cancellation, there\u2019s 25% off\u201d. The victims are given plenty of reassurance that the deal is legitimate, such as telephone calls with the alleged property owner, booking confirmation emails and photos of the property. Some scammers have even offered to arrange a birthday cake on arrival.<\/p>\n

Once payment is made phone calls go to voicemail, emails are not replied to and it becomes evident that the advert was a scam.<\/p>\n

Fake listings<\/strong><\/span>
\nSome scammers create fake adverts\u00a0on listing sites such as Airbnb, often properties are much cheaper than others in the area. Unsuspecting guests are directed off the listing site to complete the booking, with a further discount offered if payment is made by bank transfer.<\/p>\n

Cloned websites<\/strong><\/span>
\nScammers copy photos and information from genuine holiday rental websites onto a fake website. Again, deals such as a discount and free cancellation are used to lure travellers in. It\u2019s only once there\u2019s no response to emails and calls that guests realise they\u2019ve been ripped off.<\/p>\n

How to avoid holiday booking scams<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

To avoid being caught out by a holiday booking scam, follow these tips to protect yourself.<\/p>\n

Is it too good to be true?<\/strong><\/span>
\nWhen you are caught up in the excitement of booking a holiday, especially when there isn\u2019t a lot of availability, it\u2019s easy to get lured in by a bargain and last-minute deal. Scammers often create a sense of urgency to prevent victims from thinking logically.<\/p>\n

If a villa is advertised at half the going rate and has lots of availability in peak season when everywhere else is booked up, then it could be a scam and you need to do some further research. The same applies if a big discount is offered to pay quickly, an unusually high deposit is required or a promise to cancel anytime for a 100% refund.<\/p>\n

If the deal seems too good to be true \u2013 then it probably is.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be directed away from a trusted listing site<\/strong><\/span>
\nSome fraudsters try to lure consumers away from booking platforms such as Vrbo and Airbnb with a better deal to book direct and pay via a bank transfer.<\/p>\n

Transactions and communications should always occur through the listing sites secure booking system to ensure guests\u2019 payments are protected.<\/p>\n

Is the website fake?<\/strong><\/span>
\nBefore booking direct, travellers should check the authenticity of a website. Be wary of websites containing multiple typos, information that is out of date and amateur photographs.<\/p>\n

Do a\u00a0whois lookup<\/a>\u00a0by entering the website address in the search box. This shows details of who owns the website (unless they have opted to hide their personal details). Does it match the owners\u2019 details provided to you? How long has the website domain name been registered? If it\u2019s only a few weeks be cautious.<\/p>\n

You can also try a reverse image search using the Google Chrome Browser. Right-click on the image and choose \u2018search Google for image\u2019. If you find the same photo being used for several different listings and the host details are different, it could be a scam.<\/p>\n

Ask the host questions<\/strong><\/span>
\nAsking the host questions about the location can help reassure you that the holiday home is genuine. Ask them questions that aren\u2019t directly related to the property. Such as, can they recommend any good restaurants or local beaches? What do they suggest for a day out? Where\u2019s the closest supermarket? Genuine rental owners will be happy to oblige and share their knowledge. If they provide vague responses to your questions, proceed with caution.<\/p>\n

Give them a call<\/strong><\/span>
\nCan you easily reach the host? Scammers are known to make excuses as to why they can\u2019t talk on the phone. If the property owner is avoiding your phone calls or doesn\u2019t display a contact number on their website, then again, proceed with caution.<\/p>\n

Read reviews<\/strong><\/span>
\nCheck for previous guest feedback and look out for fake or a lack of reviews as this could be another red flag. Read negative reviews, as they can alert you if there is something dubious about a property. However, don\u2019t be put off if there are a few slightly negative reviews amongst lots of 5* ones. It\u2019s how the owner responds to the reviews that matters and if they resolved the issue.<\/p>\n

Some listing sites also allow guests to review the host, not just the holiday let.<\/p>\n

Check out the location<\/strong><\/span>
\nWhen booking direct, check out the house using Google Maps and Street View. Do the website photos and description match the images on street view? Although some owners will be unwilling to disclose the location openly on their website, there should be no problems getting it at the booking stage when the owner knows you are serious about booking.<\/p>\n

Are they experienced?<\/strong><\/span>
\nIf you book via a listing site such as Vrbo.co.uk or Airbnb.co.uk, the listing shows how long the owner has been advertising on the site. The length the advertiser has been on the site is usually a good indicator of the owners\u2019 experience. The longer the better.<\/p>\n

Is there a rental agreement?<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe host or property manager should send you a rental agreement before you book. This outlines the terms and conditions of the booking and house rules. If they don\u2019t then this is another warning sign.<\/p>\n

Are they active on social media?<\/strong><\/span>
\nMost owners have social media profiles to promote the property and local area. If the posts get shares, likes and comments from past guests, this is a positive sign.<\/p>\n

What is the safest way to pay when booking a holiday?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The level of protection you have depends on how you pay for your holiday.<\/p>\n

Credit card<\/strong><\/span>
\nCredit cards offer the greatest protection if you are scammed, as you can make a claim against your card provider under\u00a0Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act<\/a>. For Section 75 to apply the holiday you paid for must have cost over \u00a3100 and not more than \u00a330,000.<\/p>\n

Paying by credit card offers the most comprehensive protection from fraud when booking a holiday. If you are booking direct and the holiday home owner doesn\u2019t accept credit cards (they should as it\u2019s\u00a0easy to set up<\/a>), make sure you are certain they are genuine.<\/p>\n

Debit card<\/strong><\/span>
\nIf you pay using a debit card and are scammed, you may be able to request your money back through the banks\u2019 chargeback scheme.<\/p>\n

PayPal<\/strong><\/span>
\nSome hosts may take payments via PayPal, which allows you to pay online. PayPal has its own buyer protection scheme \u2013 yet\u00a0according to moneysavingexpert.com<\/a>\u00a0it is inferior to Section 75.<\/p>\n

Bank transfer<\/strong><\/span>
\nWhen booking with the owner direct, a bank transfer may be the preferred method of payment. However, once the money transfer has cleared, there is very little consumer protection, and it will be difficult to recover funds in cases of fraud. That\u2019s why scammers request a bank transfer. Once the money goes into their account, they take it straight out and it disappears.<\/p>\n

If a bank transfer is the only option, then do extra research as above before you send payment.<\/p>\n

Avoid\u00a0paying for accommodation by currency transfer services like MoneyGram or Western Union as you’ve very little protection if something goes wrong.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What protection do listing sites such as Airbnb and Vrbo offer?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"money<\/p>\n

Airbnb<\/strong><\/span>
\nTo take advantage of Airbnb\u2019s\u00a0AirCover<\/a>\u00a0hosts and guests must not communicate, share personal contact information, pay, or request payment for a reservation outside of Airbnb\u2019s platform.<\/p>\n

Vrbo<\/strong><\/span>
\nWhen you pay through Vrbo, they protect your rental payment against fraud with their\u00a0Book with Confidence Guarantee<\/a>. If you make a payment off the Vrbo platform, your payment isn\u2019t protected.<\/p>\n

What to do if you\u2019re the victim of holiday booking fraud<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

If you have been the victim of an online holiday booking scam:<\/p>\n