There’s nothing more frustrating than being on vacation mode only to find out that the apartment you rented out over the Internet and paid for in advanced was not reserved to your name because it was part of a scam to milk you of your money. And there are a lot of these scams out there on the Internet nowadays.
A French tourist and her Swiss friend were victimized by such a scam. After reserving a spot in Manhattan’s Camelot apartments and paying in advanced through wire transfer, they were told by the superintendent that they were not expected. What is worse, the superintendent admits that this scenario happens often: tourists come in with a short-term lease but the contract if fake.
This instance, though, is no reason to be disheartened about making rentals over the Internet. There are legitimate deals online. And when you strike a good deal, you’ll sometimes get more than what you will if you stay in a hotel: maid service, pools or beaches, bottles of wine, sports equipment, fresh-cut flowers, kitchen staples, and more.
So how, then, can you determine what’s real from what’s not? Here are a few tips:
1) Check if the company or homeowner participates in a legitimate website and receives a lot of positive reviews.
2) If you’re dealing with an individual, build the trust by having numerous phone conversations and asking lots of questions.
3) If you are being asked for upfront payment, don’t use your credit card. Ask the homeowner if it’s possible to pay the full amount once you’ve arrived.
Not all scams, though, are directed towards renters. There are homeowners who have also been cheated by Internet listings. There are those who book a place, send a genuine-looking cashier’s check or money order for more than what the rent is worth, calls saying a mistake has been made and asks for the remainder back – the homeowner, trusting a prospective client, sends the money back through wire transfer, only to have the initial check or money order bounce.
It is a sad fact that there will always be scammers out there. One just needs to be more cautious and thorough before booking a place online.