Security Advice to Holiday Home Owners

What is a Booking Enquiry Scam?

Booking enquiry scams are very common and one of the oldest types of fraud targeting holiday home owners.

Fraudsters pose as convincing potential guests and send an email or sometimes phone with an enquiry to the home owner asking to rent their property. The scam can take many guises. The fraudster will lure the home owner into disclosing personal information to enable the scammers to carry out identity theft or persuade the victim to part with money.

Look for the following warning signs in your booking enquiries to avoid these typical scams:

The fraudster will make a booking and send payment by cheque or bank draft. The amount is usually for more than the total payment due. They then request you to return the outstanding balance by wire transfer. Meanwhile, the cheque they sent you would have been cancelled or fake. This scam exploits delays in the cheque clearance system.

Excessive personal or circumstantial information in the enquiry about the reason for booking.

Requests involving a third party in the booking process.

Requests for suspiciously or unusual long rental periods which involve an unusual high rental amount.

Requests for last minute bookings. These fraudsters usually say they have been let down and need accommodation immediately so they can gain access to your property which may result in burglary.

How to Protect Against Scams Targeting Holiday Home Owners?

Always protect yourself against booking enquiry scams by:

Never accept payment for more than the total rental amount due or return excess payments to the purporter.

Always ask the renter for contact details. Get address, telephone number and even try to establish their place of work.

Always call the renter to verify email communication.

If you become suspicious of any enquiry, stop communication and forward the enquiry with the email address to Customer Support for advice.

If you have someone arrive on a last minute booking and they say their relative or boss will we arriving with payment in a few days - ask them to leave and call the Police.

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

RECENT SCAMS

From: dr.david1100@gmail .com

Hello , David from florida state and i will like to know if your property is available from : Checking Date : 1 june 2010 Checkout Date 30th July 2010 2 Adults : 0 children Let me know if the property is available or not and don''t forget to include the price if the property is available Thanks +1386-490-1783 Sent from my BlackBerry®

From: piette1984@live .com

Check In Date will be May 01 2010 Check out date will be May 29 2011. 12 Months Rentals. Total Price Needed?? Alternative. Check In Date will be May 01 2010 Check out date will be May 29 2011. 4 weeks Rentals. Total Price Needed?? Email me back with further details and also with the price for both the 12 months rentals or either for 4 weeks rentals and i hope its will be possible for us to use Pc? Piette & Wife Karen M 9645 Fox Hearst Road Tampa, FL 33647 U.S.A.