In the midst of summer, seemingly “good” offers for rooms, studios or apartments for rent by the sea appear on the Internet and social networks, but behind some of them lies a fraud scheme. Some users are raising the alarm in groups on social networks that they have lost money on non-existent vacations.
Dariknews.bg warned about this.
Here's how the scheme works:
Fake ads
The fictitious landlords publish photos of real apartments taken from foreign sites, thus offering incredibly low prices. After you transfer the deposit, the profile suddenly disappears.
Fake intermediaries. In most cases, these are acquaintances to whom the owner has referred you. They often ask for a quick transfer of money to secure your dates.
How to avoid the traps?
Do not send money to unverified people. Contact the owner, ask for more photos of the accommodation. Ask clarifying questions about the apartment and observe how you are answered. Never send money to suspicious bank accounts.
Book only through reliable and verified sites. There can also be pitfalls there, so it is very important to check the address and name of the apartment or hotel on Google Maps. Then see if there are reviews and whether they are from real people or fake profiles.
Use the image search function to make sure that the photos are not taken from another site.
How to recognize a fake ad for an apartment, studio or flat?
A price that seems too good to be true
If the ad offers a luxury apartment on the first line for 50-70 lv. per night during the peak season, there is almost certainly some kind of trick.
Photos taken from other sites
Use the “Image Search“ function on Google – if the photos appear on different sites and countries, the ad is probably fake.
3️⃣ Profile without history and reviews
Check if the owner has real publications, friends, old ads or reviews. A newly created profile with only a few photos is suspicious.
4️⃣ Overly insistent request for a deposit
Scammers often insist on a quick transfer via Revolut, Western Union or to a foreign account, without a contract and without the possibility of cancellation.
5️⃣ Lack of exact address and contact
Real landlords provide an exact address, a link to Google Maps and photos of the entrance/surroundings. If you only get interior shots and vague descriptions – be on the lookout.
6️⃣ Spelling errors and strange writing
Fake listings are often written with poor spelling or automatically translated, especially on fraudulent sites copying large platforms.
7️⃣ Lack of personal contact
If the owner refuses to video chat, send a current photo of the property or even a contract, something is probably wrong.
A summer vacation can turn into a nightmare in just a few minutes of inattention. Fraudsters are becoming increasingly inventive and use people's panic to find a bargain at the last minute. Check carefully, do not send a deposit to strangers and trust only verified platforms – because a fake offer can cost you thousands of leva and a ruined vacation.
If you have already become a victim of fraud, file a report with the police and the Consumer Protection Commission, providing all chats, receipts and transfer numbers. Some banks may try to refund the amount in case of fraud, but the chances are small if the money went through foreign or anonymous channels.