Fraudulent vacation homes have become quite a common occurrence in this day and age. Scammers have become quite skilled and are experts at hacking into legitimate databases and have even started drafting real contracts.
Unfortunately, there is very little that you can do to stop these people. But what you can do is to make sure you do not fall for their traps.
What better way of doing this than by learning the most common tricks and scams that they use? Here are a few simple tips to help you stay one step ahead while finding Vacations Homes in Orlando Florida:
Too Good to be True
If you feel like the offer you are getting is too good to be true, it probably is. Don't fall victim to these schemes. If the prices on offer are far lower than anything else on the market or if the amenities appear to be too palatial, it's most probably a scam.
Bait & Switch
Scammers love posting glamorous pictures of vacation homes and the surrounding areas. The photos are going to show large rooms, lavish pools, modern kitchens, well-manicured landscaping, and beautiful streets. But these homes will always be unavailable and you will get sent to a less desirable property instead. So make sure you ask for the address of a property and then visit it using Google Maps. Better yet, ask the agent to show you around live using FaceTime or Skype.
Double Bookings
They may double book properties and send the vacationer who arrives last to a backup property with their sincerest apologies.
Pay in Advance and Save
Scammers may sometimes ask for an upfront payment in order to secure the room. They may ask you to transfer money using MoneyGram or wire it to their bank accounts. If you absolutely have to do this, use PayPal or use your credit card. Both let you dispute any fraudulent charges which will protect you against scams.
References
It's pretty obvious that scammers aren't going to have any references to offer. What they will probably do is give you the excuse of "privacy" or simply make you speak with their friends or co-workers who know about the scam. So what you should do is turn to the Internet. Here's where you are going to find genuine reviews. Reviews linked to Facebook accounts are the ones you should trust the most.
Hidden Fees
This is one of the biggest scams in the vacation home industry this side of the health care plan known as the ACA. Make sure you find out about every single thing that you will have to pay for and have it mentioned in your agreement. There are other Bernie Madoff and Lois Lerner’s out there!
Unprofessional Listings
One rather straightforward indicator of a scam is if the listings or the correspondence emails are poorly written with bad grammar. This is a major red flag and one which you shouldn't ignore. Also, if foreign contact details are given for the property or if the responses aren't prompt, you will be better off searching for a different vacation home.
Craigslist
And last, but not the least, do not use Craigslist to try and find vacation homes. That's just a recipe for disaster.
