Holiday accommodation scams rife – here’s how to avoid being duped

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, six cons a-lying, five fake golden rings, four call centre hoaxes, three lotto winnings, two-timing lovers and a hundred fake holiday listings!

You have been warned.

Every year accommodation scams are rife on the North Coast and at popular destinations countrywide.

Ruthless con artists are already rubbing their greedy paws together as the festive season approaches.

Holiday accommodation scams usually involve a fake listing posted online, often on Facebook, but increasingly on reputable apps where people might be less wary.

Scammers often steal photographs from a number of legitimate listings and combine them to create a realistic looking rental opportunity.

The house used might not even be available to rent. In the past, bewildered residents have had holidaymakers arrive on their front step in the middle of the night demanding their rooms.

These people have usually paid a large deposit to secure the booking which they lose and are left in a panic to find new lodgings.

The Courier spoke to local accommodation owners and hosts about some of the best ways to identify and avoid being scammed.

• If a holiday accommodation advertisement looks too good to be true, it probably is.

• Cross-reference the listing with other listings in the same area and over the same time period to get an idea of whether the cost is consistent.

• Search whether the accommodation has its own website and ask them directly whether they use agents. It is also useful to see whether the agent has prior reviews.

• Always check the photos to see if they line up. Often scammers take photos from different accommodation sources and put them together on a single listing. A good way to see a scam is to look to see whether the flooring matches.

• To the above point, if you suspect the accommodation might be a scam, use a reverse image search engine on your browser. This way, if the photo has been posted in other parts of the world or on other listings, it is probably fraudulent.

• Be wary if the advertisement specifies WhatsApp as the only contact method. Hosts should always be available to talk on the phone and via email as well.

• Look out for people that ask payment to be made to a smaller bank. TymeBank is one which is commonly used.

• Spelling errors and invoices which do not seem accurate often indicate fraudulent activity.

• On a reputable app, like AirBnB, never agree to pay the hosts outside of the app. Some fake hosts might ask for a direct deposit for a security or cleaning fee. Always ask for payment to be made through the app.

Umhlali Saps spokesperson, Captain Vinny Pillay confirmed that the holiday accommodation scam industry was alive and well.

“We have seen cases recently and they are expected to spike during the main holiday season. It is very difficult to catch these scammers, because they change their bank and destroy their sim card after each successful scam. The best way to stop this from happening is to prevent it in the first place, because punishing the perpetrators after the fact can sometimes be impossible,” he said.

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