Vacation under suspicion of fraud: How fraudsters fake vacation rentals!

Vacation under suspicion of fraud: How fraudsters fake vacation rentals!

Many people in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania work hard to finance their annual vacation. But what happens if your well-deserved vacation suddenly falls through? This is exactly what has recently happened to many holidaymakers who have fallen victim to fraudsters offering false holiday apartments and houses via fake websites. These scammers often ask for an advance payment and upon arrival it turns out that the accommodation does not actually exist. Instead of paradisiacal beaches or cozy huts, those affected find themselves in front of empty doors or in a normal residential building whose owner is clueless. Nordkurier reports of such cases and warns of the increasing number of these scams.

How can you protect yourself from this? The police recommend not making advance payments when booking online accommodation. Instead, safer payment methods should be used; Invoice, direct debit or credit card are ideal, as these options allow cancellation within a few days. Payments via services such as Western Union or Paysafecard are by no means advisable, as the funds usually end up directly with the fraudsters. The police also advise that bookings only be made via websites with an encrypted connection (https).

Tips for safe booking

But it's not just the method of payment that's important. Before booking, it is important to check the provider's legal notice, company headquarters and tax number. Spontaneous bookings should also be avoided if possible and the prices between different providers should be compared. That sounds like a lot of effort, but in the end it can save real money and nerves. The Lower Saxony Consumer Center also offers free short advice to find out more about such topics.

The danger from fraudsters is not just limited to fake bookings. In some cases, they even use the supposed bookings to spy on residential buildings. In Leizen, two men were observed breaking into private houses without ringing the bell because they said they were looking for a holiday apartment. The police have already started investigating these perpetrators; one of them was already known to the police. Criminals often consider unsecured or ajar doors to carry out their plans. Watchlist Internet also warns of phishing attacks and gives helpful tips on how to avoid fraud, such as not following links from emails.

The situation where you pay for a nice vacation but end up with closed doors could be calculable. This makes it all the more important to navigate the digital jungle of fake websites and offers with a watchful eye. The effort is definitely worth it.