The Internet is littered with accounts of people who fell for scams involving vacation rentals. After you send the money to the “owner” via wire transfer, they typically stop responding to your messages and delete the “listing.” When the smoke clears, you’ll find yourself homeless and penniless. With countless of villas in Seminyak, Bali, sometimes it’s easy to stumble into a shady vacation rental that are ready to rob your bank.
Following these seven guidelines will help you avoid vacation rental scams.
A Deal That Looks Like It’s Too Good To Be True
When something looks like it’s too good to be true, it usually is. That’s something to think about when looking into different vacation rental options. Apartments and cottages may vary in price depending on things like number of bedrooms, amenities provided, and location; nevertheless, you should be aware of those that seem suspiciously cheap. Before deciding on a certain region to rent in, it is a good idea to research the average rental pricing in that area by looking at several different listings in the area. If you are trying to look for Seminyak villas accommodation, be sure to be familiar with the price range of villas in the area.
Make Sure the Villa Actually Exists
Google Maps is a fantastic tool for verifying the validity of locations. In fact, there are street view images available online that you may use to get a feel for the neighborhood the house is located in. Try to find a property that is professionally managed, and avoid using rental marketplaces like Craigslist. Although it may seem like a good idea to book a vacation rental through one of these websites, scammers frequently use them to take advantage of unsuspecting travelers.
Do Some Research When Looking for Villas
Talk to an actual person at the property management company or the homeowner’s residence. Verify the landlord or agency’s existence by looking up the name and contact information online. Getting someone’s personal information by email is simple, so always double check with a phone call.
Rent Known Villas in Seminyak
The safest options is to rent famous villas in Seminyak that have its own legit social media accounts, been featured in a magazine, or recommended by someone you know if at all possible. Previous tenants are a great resource for questions concerning rent, deposits, and other conditions. Start your trip planning by inquiring with friends and relatives about vacation rentals in the areas you’d want to explore.
More Travelling Tips:
Ultimate Tips for Vacationing in Bali Villas with Extended Family!
Adding More Fun to Your Canggu Bali Villas Stay Experience
Take Caution When Making Payments; No Pay Except for Bank Transfer
Never make a payment to an unknown person through check, wire, or internet. Scammers frequently demand immediate payment by wire transfer, Western Union, check, or cash. Once this happens, getting your money back is an extremely long shot. If the vacation rental turns out to be a fraud, there is simply no way to recover your money.
If you’re not working with a reputable travel agency and you’re requested to pay the full rental amount in cash, check, wire transfer, MoneyGram, or Western Union before you arrive, you should go elsewhere. Most wire transfer fraud occurs when the con artist receives payment from you, transfers the money to another account, closes the original account, and disappears with your money before you know you’ve been duped.
If the credit card company has a solid dispute resolution department to handle fraud, then using the card is a more safer option.
