News & Media
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is urging Floridians to use caution when booking online vacation rentals to avoid falling victim to scams.
Moody, in her 2024 Summer Scams Series: Sunny Days and Shady Deals video, said vacation renters should use legitimate platforms for rentals and be wary of too-good-to-be-true deals. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2023 Internet Crime Complaint Center Report, real estate scams, including schemes involving short-term rentals, resulted in nearly $150 million in losses nationwide, Moody said in a press release.
“Summer should be a time for relaxation and fun in the sun, but swindlers can turn dream vacations into nightmares,” she said. “Scammers may take advantage of the skyrocketing demand for vacation rentals during the summertime and post fake listings for properties that are not available for rent. These fraudulent listings can appear on legitimate rental websites and social media platforms that seem to be genuine offers.”
Moody offered tips to avoid vacation rental scams:
Verify the listing: Use reputable vacation rental websites and be cautious of verified listings that appear too good to be true, with significantly lower prices than similar properties in the area.
Research the property: Conduct an online search of the property’s address to ensure it is available for rent. Look for reviews and feedback from previous renters.
Communicate securely: Use the rental platform for all communications and avoid transferring money directly to the property owner or manager. Beware of requests for payment via wire transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
Read the contract: Carefully review the rental agreement, including cancellation and refund policies, before booking. Ensure all terms and conditions are clearly outlined before making any payments.
Floridians can report scams to Moody’s office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com. Online fraud can also be reported to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Computer Crime Center, and to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
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