Comments on: Nearly Fell For A Vacation Rental Scam!

By: Wickerman

Wickerman — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:36:48 +0000

So what if you get one of these and say, for example provide them with your name/address/phone number so they can send you a certified check prior to their “arrival”??? Just saying, not that I did that or anything. gulp.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:29:05 +0000

Here is a Scam I recently recieved …

Hi there,

I want to rent your place for 15 days as i am planning on surprising my God-Son and his Bride with a vacation gift package for my inability to attend their wedding with treat,them alone while currently on active duty with United States Marine 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry out of Schofield,please check availability and get back to me immediately,the scheduled date is October 3rd thru Oct 17th 2009,(15 Days),i will need to conclude this booking early enough for them to avoid any inconvenience during there stay.

Thank you and have a nice day.

By: Davide

Davide — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:49:22 +0000

Thank you so much for posting this!

With a quick Google search of some exact text from an inquiry I just received (wife’s employers, wedding gift), you spared me the hassle and potential nightmare this scam might have become.

Is there any official place to lodge incidents like this? Is there anything that can be done other than spreading the word?

In any case, thanks again.
-Davide

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:54:57 +0000

I’ve never understood why people trying to scam others can’t get the grammar correct. I always thought if I was going to scam someone I’d “dot the I’s and cross the T’s”.

Glad to hear you caught yourself before falling for it.

We posted a scam by a gentleman posting fake vacation rental ads.
http://thesociety.com/blog/traveler-tips/2008/08/does-that-vacation-rental-exist/

By: Jennifer Jilks

Jennifer Jilks — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:14:47 +0000

Thanks for sharing this, Heather. The request for an address doesn’t phase me as we have a P.O. Box, but it is a big flag for those of us who follow scams.

I had one person contact me twice. The 2nd time, when you expect them to ask more information, they wanted our exact location to determine suitability. I remained deliberately vague (“2 km from XXX town”) as I was uncomfortable with this.

BTW
They contacted me a month later, just a few days before the time they wanted, but my children were here visiting. They lost out!