Fake listings and scams are very common when booking short-term holiday rentals online. Market Watch reports, despite the photographs enticing you and even the price not deterring you, you never really know whether the rental is real. The reality is, you don’t, but here’s how to spot red flags to minimize your risk of a fake listing. PennyGem’s Chloe Hurst has the story!
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00:00It can happen that you book a vacation rental and you find out the entire listing is a fraud,
00:10said Michelle Couch Friedman, founder of Consumer Rescue.
00:14Fake listings and scams are very common when booking short-term holiday rentals online.
00:19Market Watch reports,
00:20Despite the photographs enticing you and even the price not deterring you, you never really
00:26know whether the rental is real.
00:28The reality is you don't, but here's how to spot red flags to minimize your risk of
00:33a fake listing.
00:35Choosing a legitimate listing will take time and patience.
00:38It may even mean adjusting your expectations.
00:41A friendly reminder, vacation rental platforms like Airbnb will not be at your beck and call.
00:48They don't vet these properties, they are listing services.
00:52Cross-reference information when possible, like photographs and addresses, and book only
00:56on reputable sites.
00:58Perhaps check in with the host ahead of time and read the reviews.
01:02Booking with a credit card will give you peace of mind that your payment is protected.