Vacation rentals sites are not exempt from scam's! Scammer will use stolen credit cards to list their properties that may not even exist. This practice is rare, but occurs often in cities like New York, Miami, etc. Below are some tips on how to avoid becoming the victim of a scam.
If the property owner has hesitations or tries to communicate via email only or you just does not feel right, step away from the transaction! There are thousands of vacation rentals so, move on to another owner that answers your questions and is willing to offer proof of ownership.
When possible, pay with a credit card. Your credit card company will provide protection in the event of fraud.
Some owners will not accept credit cards but will accept a personal checks, beware if cashiers checks most of the time their is some kind scam involved with it! and always take the additional steps to assure the owner and rental are legitimate.
Never forget the old saying, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!