Beware accommodation scams on Dolphin Coast as holiday season nears

An ugly accommodation scam is rearing its head once again.

Opportunistic fraudsters are using the approaching festive season and anonymity of cyberspace to defraud unsuspecting consumers of thousands of Rands. Ballito is not immune to these scams and consumers and accommodation establishments in the area have already been conned.

The fraudsters lift photos and write-ups of accommodation establishments from legitimate websites and post offers on free advertising websites like OLX and Gumtree at hugely undercut prices. Often the prospect of an incredible bargain overrides rational and logical thinking and people pay their deposits to the fraudsters without giving it a second thought. Later when the consumer arrives he discovers his booking does not exist, the establishment is fully booked, he has lost his deposit and he has to find somewhere else to stay.

A Durban couple recently responded to an advert on OLX for five en suite rooms with sea views at and upmarket guesthouse in Ballito for only R1500 per night (the name of the establishment is being withheld because the matter is under investigation). The guesthouse manager Desiree Bunger said the couple became suspicious when the man from the advert kept asking for the rest of the deposit but refused to let them view the guesthouse on site. The guesthouse manager said fortunately the couple took a chance and arrived at the guesthouse unannounced before paying the third party any more money as they discovered upon arrival that their reservation did not exist .

“Anyone affected by this scam should open a case at the relevant police station and then report the incident and case number to the National Accommodation Association of South Africa (NAA-SA) who will liaise with the Tourism Business Counsel of South Africa’s (TBCSA) Tourism Safety Initiative who works closely with police intelligence services,” said NAA-SA chairman, Donovan Muirhead.

NAA-SA coastal vice chairman Heather Hunt, said establishments that want to find out if they are being falsely advertised on free advertising websites can contact her on 031-5613795. She said the public should be suspicious of cheaper than normal prices.

“Go back to the establishment’s actual website and confirm the banking details. Contact the establishment and find out if the advert is legitimate. Normally accommodation establishments do not use free advertising websites,” said Hunt.