High riskRental

Vacation Rental Scam

This scam uses a fake or hijacked holiday rental listing, often with copied photos and a below-market price, to pressure you into paying a deposit off-platform by bank transfer for a property that is not actually available.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Holiday rental scam
Main red flag
A host asking you to pay a deposit by bank transfer off the booking platform for an unusually cheap rental.
What to do first
Keep payment and messages on the official booking platform and do not transfer a deposit outside it.

How this scam works

This scam uses a fake or hijacked holiday rental listing, often with copied photos and a below-market price, to pressure you into paying a deposit off-platform by bank transfer for a property that is not actually available.

Rental scams advertise properties that are not available, not owned by the "landlord", or do not exist, to collect deposits and first-month rent from hopeful tenants. They pressure you to pay before viewing and to move money by transfer.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: A host asking you to pay a deposit by bank transfer off the booking platform for an unusually cheap rental. Keep payment and messages on the official booking platform and do not transfer a deposit outside it.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Rental Deposit Scam and the Cloned Rental Listing Scam. See the full Rental & Housing Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • A rental priced noticeably below similar properties for the same dates
  • A host urging you to pay or message outside the official booking platform
  • A request to pay the deposit by bank transfer rather than a protected method
  • Pressure that others are about to book, so you must pay immediately
  • Photos that appear on other listings or elsewhere online when you search them

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'The villa is in high demand for those dates. To secure it, please send the deposit by bank transfer today and we can finalise outside the site to save on fees: [unfamiliar link]'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What gives it away: A host asking you to pay a deposit by bank transfer off the booking platform for an unusually cheap rental.

The scale of it

Hundreds of millions
real-estate and rental fraud reported to the FBI runs into the hundreds of millions of dollars a year
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
$12.5B
total reported internet-crime losses in the US in 2023
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center

How to protect yourself

  • Keep all communication and payment within the official booking platform
  • Search the listing photos online to see if they were copied from elsewhere
  • Look up the property address independently to confirm it exists and is let out
  • Pay with a method that offers protection, and never transfer a deposit off-platform

Already responded? Do this now

  • If you transferred a deposit, contact your bank right away to try to recall it
  • Save the listing, messages, and payment details as evidence
  • Report the listing to the booking platform so it can be reviewed and removed
  • Report the loss to your national anti-fraud centre or local police

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not pay a deposit by bank transfer to a host you cannot verify
  • Do not move the conversation or payment off the official platform
  • Do not let 'high demand' pressure rush you into paying before you have checked

Related scams to know

High risk Rental

Rental Deposit Scam

This scam advertises a desirable rental at a low price and demands a deposit before any viewing, then disappears once you pay.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Rental

Cloned Rental Listing Scam

In this scam, someone copies a genuine rental listing's photos and description and reposts it at a lower price under their own contact details. They then ask for a deposit or first month's rent before any viewing, then disappear once paid.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Rental

Rental Application Fee Scam

This scam uses a fake landlord or agent who asks for an upfront application, holding, or background-check fee, often by e-transfer or gift card, before any viewing, then disappears once the money is sent.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Common questions

Why do scammers want me to pay outside the booking platform?
Booking platforms offer some protection and a record of the transaction. Moving payment off-platform by bank transfer removes that safety net, which is why off-platform deposit requests are a common scam pattern.
The listing has photos and reviews, so is it genuine?
Scammers copy photos and sometimes hijack real listings. Search the images online, confirm the address independently, and keep payment on the platform rather than relying on appearance alone.
What if I already transferred a deposit?
Contact your bank immediately to see if the transfer can be recalled, then report the listing to the platform and the loss to your anti-fraud centre. Acting quickly improves your chances.
How can I book a holiday rental more safely?
Use reputable platforms, keep messages and payment within them, verify the address and photos independently, and avoid hosts who push for off-platform bank transfers.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.