While many of us in the vacation rental business have become accustomed to the multiple requests we receive in fractured English from a “British Doctor” or an “American Military Officer” serving in Iraq from a Craig's List Ad. Typically they are looking to book a vacation rental for a “two week honeymoon” for his or her Godchild and bride to be as a "wedding gift". Newly emerging scams are becoming harder to discern. Just yesterday on Craig’s List Savannah, I found one of our own upscale lofts being offered for $100 per night from what I thought must be the absentee owners who had never before accepted that nominal a nightly rate for their well appointed urban loft. After asking questions, come to find out it was completely bogus. The images of this property had been lifted from other public online directories and recycled as an ad on Craig’s List by someone else posing as "the owner." Unfortunately these attempts of walking away with deposits and advance rental payments on vacations that never take place have become lucrative for the perpetrators in spite of their being arrested after the fact. As San Francisco consumer advocate Michael Finney reports below:
Vacation home rentals are a good deal right now. Because of the stalled economy there are fewer vacationers and more properties available. Craigs List is packed with rental offers, and some of them are scams. A Miami man was just arrested for renting out luxury homes in South Florida and Cape Cod that he did not own. Rental scams are becoming more common and this is just a new twist on the swindle. So before sending out a deposit ask a lot of questions and consider going through a reputable rental bureau or real estate office.
Folks there are plenty of good deals out there if you are coming to coastal Georgia for a quick vacation weekend. It’s the American thing to do to shop your competition and Craig’s List Savannah is as good a place to shop while seeking a deal in the Historic District as any. Just make sure that you are dealing with a reputable vacation rental management company that actually owns some of the properties on their roster of vacation rentals. Keeps reservation services honest if they have a stake in maintaining a stellar online reputation. Read independent reviews of other renters (posted reviews that are not verified by independent parties can be bogus), find out where it is they actually are located within the historic district. In short ask enough questions until you reach a comfort level before booking a reservation. Single vacation rental property owners may or may not be whom they represent themselves to be. Finding out other wise upon your arrival can be a disheartening experience. Why risk not being able to gain access to your luxury accommodation when a little common sense can mean the difference between a fondly remembered weekend getaway versus the weekend from hell? This Craig’s List Public Service announcement is bought to you by:
Savannah Vacation News – All the Vacation News That’s Fit to Print
Oh for those Inquiring minds among you, the wedding gift scam quickly unravels when the Godparent asks to have "their change" picked up by courier from the check made out for more than the rental amount for one reason or another. And of course the check was never good to begin with.
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