WARNING! Online Booking Scam

Treasure Beach Forum: TB Runnin's: WARNING! Online Booking Scam
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By TB.Net on Monday, August 11, 2014 - 05:48 pm: Edit Post

We've been made aware of the following scam happening, especially with advertisers on Flipkey. This is not a joke and, unfortunately, has happened more than once in the last few months to persons we know well. So please take the time to read the following warning and heed the recommendations.

We would like to sincerely thank those who made us aware of this scam and took the time to prepare the following information.

TB.Net

WARNING! Online Booking Scam

If you have been searching for your ideal vacation property online and then suddenly and quite coincidentally receive an email offering you an unbelievable deal on it, delete the email immediately: the chances are it’s a scam that could cost you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars.

We are not entirely sure how the scam works, but it appears that spyware or rogue cookie trackers on your browser alert the scammers to the properties that you are looking at online, particularly those that you bookmark. The scammer then sends you an email pretending to be the owner of the property and offers you an incredible last-minute deal.

If you click on the link in the email to take up the deal, then that puts you straight in contact with the scammer, who will urge you to pay by Western Union or by bank transfer rather than by credit or debit card. This is because Western Union and bank transfers are immediate and can be very difficult to track.

In particular, look out for anyone with an email address of: info@happy-rntl.com

To ensure that you don’t fall victim to this scam, there are three simple steps:

1) Never click on a link from an email, if you can help it. If you want to take advantage of an offer, look up the company/individual or property online, note the email address on their website and email them direct.

2) Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and call a property owner to check them out. Use the contact details on the property’s website or Flipkey/Tripadvisor/Homeaway/VRBO etc. listing, not the one on the email you have been sent.

3) Keep your virus software on your computer up-to-date and make sure you do regular system scans.

Ultimately, if a vacation offer looks unbelievable, then it very probably is.

Taking the above steps can not only save you money, they will also save you your vacation, and your sanity!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Karen Kennedy on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 - 12:59 pm: Edit Post

Thanks for posting this.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Scammed on Wednesday, August 13, 2014 - 11:08 am: Edit Post

Info@rental-now.com is another email address to watch out for.