Florida Attorney General Issues Warning To Tourists About Vacation Rental Scams
About one hundred and twenty-two million people visited the state of Florida last year.
And according to Governor Ron DeSantis, tourism to the sunshine state has continued to surpass pre-pandemic levels.
With so many people hoping to hit the region’s shorelines this season, though, countless scammers are ready to prey.
So, Attorney General Ashley Moody has launched a “Summer Scam Series” to raise awareness about the common traps and pitfalls that tourists fall victim to during the summer months.
“Florida is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the nation. Scammers will take advantage of this by creating fake vacation rental listings in hopes of stealing personal information and money,” Moody explained.
She also outlined eight key precautions that visitors need to take when renting a vacation home.
First, if a listing requires you to leave the website or app in order to pay through a third-party platform, that is “a major red flag.”
You should also do a reverse image search of the photos included with the rental property’s listing. If they are being duplicated and used for numerous listings, the rental is likely a scam.
And, if you are unsure, you can always ask the lister for additional photos of the property.
aiisha – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purpose only, not the actual person
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Next, be sure to use a reputable rental website like Airbnb or VRBO. If you have not heard of a site– or know someone who has successfully used it in the past– it may be best to steer clear.
It is also vital to ensure that any website you plan to pay through offers fraud protection and payment transfer options.
Finally, always check for property reviews from previous renters, be wary of listings that include foreign telephone numbers as a point of contact, and be sure to pay for your stay using a credit card.
This is because, in the case of a scam, it is much easier to dispute a fraudulent charge.
Moody also explained how, even though we are reaching the end of summer, renters must remain diligent as we enter the fall months.
“We are near the midway point of the summer season, and vacations are coming to an end as families prepare to send students back to school,” she said.
“But don’t count on scammers slowing down. Please keep your guard up and take precautions to avoid falling prey to scams through the remainder of this summer and beyond.”
And if you or someone you know encounters a vacation scam in Florida, you are encouraged to immediately report the incident to local law enforcement and file an online complaint with the Attorney General’s office at MyFloridaLegal.com. You can also call (866) 9NO-SCAM.
To gain more information about the Summer Scam Series, visit the link here.
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