Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has issued a warning to travelers across the country about vacation rental scams this summer.
“Florida is one of the most popular destinations in the country. Scammers will take advantage of this by creating fake hotel listings to steal personal information and money. Whether you are traveling in or out of state, remember to take precautions when renting a place to stay to avoid being left out during your vacation,” Moody said.
Florida's beaches attract millions of tourists each year, but they're also popular with robberies, according to the New York Post.
Some cybersecurity experts call Florida the “scam capital of the world.” It’s not just the Sunshine State; the problem is widespread across the country. In July, the FBI’s Boston office warned residents about a rise in fake rentals.
According to the agency, many bad actors are creating money scams targeting short-term and long-term renters. FBI data shows that 11,578 people lost more than $350 million to this problem in 2021, up 64% from the previous year.
“I once had a family fly to Miami for a vacation and when they arrived at their property, the landlord told them there was no rental information,” said cybersecurity expert Hiram Del Amo.
Motel scams are rampant across Florida.
Vacation rental scams are flooding Craigslist and Facebook, warns Del Amo. In fact, some experts estimate that one-fifth of hotel listings on online platforms are fake.
“About 20-25% of the properties in there are not real,” Del Amo added.
Families who fall for these scams lose thousands of dollars and end up with a trip that doesn't go as planned.
“We left Tennessee at 3 a.m. and arrived in Panama City around 11:30 a.m. When we messaged the agent on Facebook asking for parking and the exact address, she immediately blocked me,” said Katie Hall, one of the victims.
In that situation, the Halls and their three young sons had to run around looking for a new hotel. Eventually, the family found a place to rest, but never got their money back.
“I lost $1,425 in rent. Because of this, my husband and I had to change our plans, not return to Tennessee, and find a new place to live,” Hall said.
To avoid falling into this trap, Del Amo advises travelers not to hand over cash, wire transfer, or make any payment that cannot be reversed. Scammers will take advantage of this loophole to get money. They also won't ask for a credit card, knowing they'll be charged back. Facebook and Craigslist have alerted users to be on the lookout for scams and shared some tips to avoid being scammed. Both companies also ask people to report any suspicious activity.
