Vacation Rental Scams: What to Watch For and How to Protect Yourself

You’re scrolling through dreamy beach houses or cozy mountain cabins—picturing yourself with your toes in the sand or sipping coffee by a fireplace. Vacation mode: activated. But before you book that “amazing deal,” hit pause. That picture-perfect escape could be a vacation rental scam in disguise.

As hotel prices continue to rise, more travelers are turning to private rentals through platforms like Airbnb and VRBO. While sites like these offer convenience and charm, they’ve also become a hotspot for fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers reported nearly 50,000 vacation rental scam complaints in 2024, with losses totaling more than $10 million. And those are just the cases that were reported. Here’s what you need to know about common vacation rental scams, the red flags to watch for, and how to stay safe when booking your next trip.

What is a Vacation Rental Scam? 

A vacation rental scam is any deceptive tactic used to trick people into paying for rental properties that are fake, unavailable, or misrepresented. Scammers create fake listings, hijack real ones, or build phony booking websites to lure in eager vacationers.

Common Vacation Rental Scams 

Scammers come up with all kinds of creative ways to take advantage of travelers. Some of the most common schemes include:

1. Fake Vacation Rentals

How it plays out:
Scammers lift photos and descriptions from legitimate listings and repost them with slightly altered contact details, often offering impossibly low prices. The “owner” or “agent” might push for quick payment via wire transfer, prepaid debit card, or app-based payment service—methods that are hard to trace or reverse. Once paid, the traveler arrives at the property only to discover it doesn’t exist, is occupied, or was never for rent in the first place.

Tip: Always book through reputable platforms and avoid sending money directly to someone you haven’t met or verified.

2. "Free" Vacations

How it plays out:
A phone call, email, or social media ad promises a free cruise or resort stay. But when you try to claim it, you're hit with hidden charges like taxes, “processing” fees, or mandatory upgrades. You may also be required to attend high-pressure sales presentations (often for timeshares) where you're pushed to make big financial commitments on the spot.

Tip: Be skeptical of anything labeled “free” that requires a credit card or includes vague terms like “subject to availability.”

3. Sketchy Wi-Fi Connections

How it plays out:
You’re at an airport, hotel, or café and connect to a Wi-Fi network named something like “FreeHotelWiFi” or “GuestWiFi.” Unbeknownst to you, it’s a spoofed network created by scammers. Once connected, any data you enter—such as credit card numbers, passwords, or banking info—can be intercepted and used to steal your identity or access your accounts.

Tip: Use a virtual private network (VPN) or personal hotspot on public Wi-Fi and avoid logging into sensitive accounts unless you’re on a secure, known connection.

4. Bogus Third Party Booking Sites

How it plays out:
These fake websites often look nearly identical to well-known booking platforms, complete F=with logos, reviews, and payment systems. Once you “book” a vacation rental, you may receive a confirmation email that appears legitimate. Later, a scammer may call asking to “verify” your credit card or bank account info—or you may arrive at your destination to find no reservation exists.

Tip: Double-check URLs and read reviews from multiple sources. If a site looks off or has inconsistent contact info, it’s best to steer clear.

5. Timeshare Resale Scams

How it plays out:
If you own a timeshare and want to sell, be wary of unsolicited calls or emails from people claiming to be brokers or resale experts. These scammers often sound professional and persuasive, offering to sell your timeshare quickly—sometimes even claiming they already have a buyer lined up. They’ll pressure you with urgent phrases like, “Act now before the buyer backs out,” or “This offer expires today.” Then comes the catch: they’ll ask for an upfront fee, labeled as a listing cost, title search, or legal expense. Once the money is sent, communication stops, and the promised sale never happens.

Tip: Legitimate timeshare resale companies rarely require payment upfront. Always verify the company’s licensing, check with the Better Business Bureau, and never sign anything without reading the fine print or consulting a trusted advisor.

Red Flags to Watch For

Vacation rental scams often have similar warning signs. If you spot any of these, think twice before booking:

• Unbelievably Low Prices: If the price is significantly cheaper than comparable listings, it's probably a scam.
• No Reviews or New Listings: Scammers often use fresh listings with no feedback to avoid detection.
• Grainy or Generic Photos: Low-quality or stock-like images can signal a fake listing. You can reverse search the image on Google to see if it’s been lifted from another site.
• Requests for Unusual Payments: Anyone asking you to pay by wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards is likely a scammer.
• Pressure to Move Off-Platform: A legitimate host will never ask you to complete a transaction outside of the official travel site.

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