Pack Your Bags and Your Smarts: How to Avoid Travel and Rental Scams

The excitement of new destinations and adventures is undeniable, especially for unsuspecting tourists. Rental properties and travel deals that are too good to be true often hide with malicious intentions. By arming yourself with knowledge, you can navigate your upcoming summer travel plans with confidence and avoid falling victim to these common travel and rental schemes. 

Be a smart traveler by booking wisely: 

• Research is key:  Before booking, thoroughly research the company, hotel, or rental property by utilizing trusted websites. Use travel review platforms and the Better Business Bureau to check for past customer experiences and any reported scams. Consider searching the company followed by terms like “complaint”, “review”, or “scam” to see what other possibly have encountered. 
• Too Good to be True Deals: Budget travel is appealing, however, be wary of deals that seem unbelievably affordable. Fraudsters often lure victims with unrealistic offers. Research average rates in your chosen destination to identify suspicious outliers. 
• Book through reputable platforms: Utilize established online booking platforms with buyer protection policies in place. Avoid conducting transactions directly with unknown individuals, especially if you are pressured to pay outside the platform or upfront. 
• Never use unfamiliar payment methods: Reputable businesses have established payment methods and systems. Avoid sending money through a money transfer service (Zelle, Venmo, Wire transfer, Western Union), cash, or using uncommon methods like cryptocurrency. Stick to the secure payment options like credit cards with fraud protection. 
   

Rental Scam red flags:

• Direct Contact Outside the Platform: Legitimate rental platforms offer secure communications channels. If a potential host pressures you to pay outside the platform by unconventional methods, it’s a major red flag.
• Unrealistic photos or descriptions: Be cautious of properties with blurry or edited photos, or descriptions that seem to good to be true. 
• Pressure to pay upfront: Reputable rental platforms typically have a payment schedule. If a host requests the full payment upfront, especially for bookings well in advance, it’s likely a scam. 

Remember:

• If something seems to good to be true, it probably is. 
• Do your research and verify information before committing to any bookings or payments.
• Use secure payment methods and be wary of requests to wire funds, money transfers, or cash. 
• Trust your instincts and walk away from a situation that feels suspicious.