Summer vacation should end with souvenirs and great memories, not stories about getting scammed.
As travel season has heated up, so have schemes designed to separate travelers from their money. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is urging consumers to stay alert, warning that vacation rental fraud and other travel scams continue to target people eager to book their next getaway.
One of the most common scams begins long before travelers pack their bags. Fraudsters create fake vacation rental listings using stolen photos, enticing descriptions, and bargain prices that are hard to resist, reports the BBB. They often ask prospective renters to communicate outside trusted booking platforms and pay deposits through wire transfers, cash apps, or gift cards. Many victims don’t realize they’ve been duped until they arrive at a property that either doesn’t exist or isn’t available.
One traveler who reported the incident to BBB Scam Tracker said a person posing as an Airbnb host offered a substantial discount if they canceled their reservation on the platform and paid directly.
“After I sent a $500 deposit, he stopped responding, and I never got my money back,” said Mike Vitko.
To avoid becoming a victim, the BBB recommends verifying that a rental property exists by keeping all communication and payments on trusted platforms such as Airbnb or Vrbo, requesting a written rental agreement, checking online maps and street views, and paying with a credit card. Travelers should avoid paying through wire transfers, gift cards, or other nonrefundable payment methods such as Venmo and Zelle, said the BBB.
Scammers can also strike once a vacation begins. The BBB warns of fake calls from someone claiming to be the hotel front desk. The caller may say there’s a problem with the credit card on file and ask guests to verify their payment information. Instead, travelers should hang up and contact the front desk directly.
The BBB advises travelers to take additional precautions such as avoiding financial transactions on public hotel Wi-Fi, notifying their bank before traveling, protecting electronic devices with passwords, and waiting until after returning home to post vacation photos on social media.
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