How to Protect Yourself From Vacation Rental Scams

"A seemingly ideal five-bedroom, five-bath ski chalet advertised with panoramic views, a wood-burning fireplace and an outdoor deck with a hot tub that turned out to be a bogus Craigslist posting; the renter corresponded with a man calling himself Thomas, matched via public records to the property deed holder, and wired installments totaling $20,000. Over months of communication — including frequent check-ins while the renter underwent cancer treatment — the fraudster later claimed someone had died of COVID-19 in the house and demanded an additional $14,000 for cleaning (asking for $8,000 immediately), at which point the renter realized she had been scammed. She traced the photos and listing details to another legitimate property and located the actual owner, who had no knowledge of the scheme; law enforcement advised continued correspondence to gather evidence, but the scammer eventually stopped replying and the funds were not recovered. The experience left the renter citing the emotional sense of personal violation as worse than the financial loss." - Eric Rosen Eric Rosen Eric Rosen is a Los Angeles-based journalist with a focus on luxury travel, loyalty programs, food, and wine. He is a regular contributor to Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, and Afar, among others. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines