New Safety Checklist Provides Tips to Avoid Vacation Rental Scams

None of us wants to worry about scams, theft, and safety while on vacation, but it’s an unfortunate reality in the world of vacation home rentals. These scams can ruin vacations and have a lasting impact on the lives of victims. The team at Ooma created a helpful checklist of safety tips for travelers to help them avoid vacation rental scams and other dangers abroad. The list offers tips to help you before you arrive, after you check in, and provides awareness of safety by room, as well as general safety and emergency tips.

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Before booking, vacationers should make sure their rental choice is legitimate. There are many different ways that criminals use rentals to run scams. They’ll post false advertisements that exaggerate the luxuriousness of their rental. In some cases, it might not exist at all. They may also cancel a rental at the last minute without providing a refund. They may also try to convince their renter to switch to a poorly maintained property at the last minute. Other common ways to scam a renter for money are “free Wi-Fi” that steals information and fake menus for food delivery that harvest credit card information.

Once vacationers are aware of these scams, how can they protect themselves against them? Here are some of the tips the Ooma team offers:

• Verify the owner’s area code to make sure it matches the rental location. It’s a good sign if the rental agent offers multiple ways to contact them.
• Beware of any rental agents who try to pressure you to make a decision about renting. Always take your time when booking and be wary of pushy renters.
• Ask the rental owner questions about the local area. This can be a simple question about restaurants and attractions that help prove the person is renting to tourists in good faith.
• Compare the rental pictures with Google Maps Street View images. Exterior images should appear relatively the same and help prove that the rental is located at the listed address.
• Never share your banking information or Social Security number.
• Never pay in cash, wire transfer, or gift cards.
• Ensure your rental agreement includes a refund policy.
• Check the reviews and make sure they’re legitimate. There shouldn’t be too few or too many based on the age of the listing.

The team offers a lot of general tips, too. They advise bringing a flashlight and putting tracker tags on your luggage. Only use private guest networks or a VPN when using the Internet. Check for slip-resistant surfaces and appropriate electrical outlets in the bathrooms. The rental should also have emergency exit routes, fire extinguishers, and smoke detectors. Verify that all doors and windows are properly secured. Platforms like Vrbo and Airbnb require renters to inform all guests about the presence and type of surveillance devices, which can be used to protect you, but shouldn’t infringe upon your privacy. Make sure to check your rental platform’s safety tips and policies as well.