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How to Avoid a Reservation Scam
Periodically we are flooded with booking requests I do not even bother to respond too as they are obvious scams. Today scammers are getting smarter and Al isn't helping. Read our updated suggestions on how to spot a scammer and what to do about it.
It is hard if you have an opening you would like to fill but blocking off dates for a scam that you decide not to honor as it evolves costs you time and possible legitimate rentals.
Scammers are getting smarter and Al isn't helping. There are sophisticated programs many large property managers use but most are out of the price range of our owners. The old simple, bad English is no longer the norm. It still exists but now there are other things to watch for too. Here is a list of things to look for if you think you might be dealing with a scammer, followed by suggested ways to handle a scammer. Please remember we are not attorneys here - these lists are our observations and best suggestions but we don't guarantee they will spot all scammers or that all emails with these characteristics are scams.
Spotting a SCAM inquiry:
- Poor or unusual English: Still something the less sophisticated scammers are using. Easy to spot, especially if the email address is from the UK as the Brits should have good English. Email is not properly formatted. It just doesn't look correct or it's written in haste. either way: ie: Kindly check if we can use 3 nights or I await your swift response
- Inquiries that want to send a check but then explain the check was too much and ask for money back or if they want to send you more than requested and have you send the surplus to a third party. • Checks are not always that safe. Though your local bank will "clear" a foreign check or money order in about 2 weeks, the European banks can take 4 months to clear and report a scam. When your bank finally hears back - they will then take the money from your account and you are left holding the bag. Even credit cards charges can be protested and reversed as long as the process is begun within 3 months from the original statement. • NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM, or any other wire service — anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
- Non Specific Dates: emails without specific dates - especially those without an explanation or extreme date flexibility are suspect.
- More information provided than usual.
- A request for you to communicate offsite.
- Requests for dates that are already blocked: This does not necessarily mean it is a scam but your listing does not appear in searches for dates that are not available. Request could be legit and renter found your unit while looking thru a resort or one of our pre filled Popular Vacation Types from the front page. Still owners who actually take the time to look at your listing can usually find photos, calendar, pricing easily and will move on if the calendar is already blocked. If they are legit they will likely need more care and handling than I want to give.
- Inquiries that refer to "this condo" rather than a specific condo number or name.
- Person requesting the reservation is not the person who is paying or will not be staying. For example, a friend booking a surprise get-away or a professional travel agent. Owners are given believable explanations as to why a different name appears on the payment methods.
- Rquests to update credit card information or send money to a new account
- Calls pressuring you to act quickly or risk cancellation
- Inquiries sent to more than 12 different listings on one rental site (when we see this we will block the email)
Ways to Protect your self from a Scammer:
- Use a Bank Transfer to collect foreign funds. •
- Much less expensive than a credit card ($40 or less for each party) In Europe, most folks use their BANKER to provide credit and name check so they will be happy to provide you with their bank name. Don't use an address or phone number they supply unless you can verify on line or through your bank that the number is actually for the bank and the bank is legit.
- Europeans are also very comfortable with bank to bank transfers. When you say this is your only option - legitimate folks will be fine with it - the scam artist will not. You simply contact your bank for routing info for an INCOMING foreign draft - Most banks have one of the large banks act as a clearing house for foreign transfers so you will have slightly different instructions than you are used to for US transfers. These turn out to be less expensive than Credit card fees. Costs to you run from $10-$40 DEPENDING on the banks involved.
- International wires use the following instruction (Chase Bank is the one my bank uses for foreign transactions so I have used their codes as samples): Chase Bank: Swift code: CHASUS33; Rt: 021000021; For credit to YOUR BANK NAME; Account: 68113; FFC: Your name and account number
- Refer folks inquiring about availability to your listing calendar to confirm your availability and pricing Our website has an easy tool to “Get an Instant Quote” once dates are known. It is only as accurate as the info you have added it site set up.
- IF the possible scammer has provided an address - use google maps to look it up - amazing how many are vacant lots or storage facilities
- Do a keyword search. Googling is one of your best defenses. Google the address, Google people’s names and phone numbers, Google even chunks of descriptive text in the ad to see if it’s been copied from elsewhere. It is apparently a common routine to simply lift real ads, copy them onto a new Web site and lower the prices. Check for previous scams. Search Web sites like Scamwarners.com or Scam.com to see if people have reported similar scams.
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