Travel expert warns of scary holiday scam which could see you out of pocket and out on the street

A SCARY holiday scam could leave you out of pocket and even out on the street, an expert has warned.

The rise of popular holiday sites Airbnb and Booking.com make for easy planning – but can come at a significant cost if you’re not careful.

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Cody Candee, chief executive and founder of baggage store company Bounce, says travel scams are coming in a variety of evil ways, and there’s one standing out.

Fake accommodation listings are sharply on the rise, Cody warns.

He said: “Following the rise of vacation rentals over the past few years through sites such as Airbnb and Booking.com, Brits need to be aware of fake accommodation listings.

“Typically, scammers create fake listings on legitimate travel websites or their own platforms, offering properties that don’t exist.”

Cody warned payment is often asked to be made upfront.

But once a payment is made, the faux-host disappears.

He added: “They often request payment upfront, and once paid, they vanish.

“To avoid losing money to these types of scams, travellers should use reputable platforms, check reviews & ratings and ensure to communicate with hosts and property owners.”

The Airbnb community page has some top tips on spotting a fake listing.

Hosts Cynthia and Chris from Vancouver, Canada, put together a checklist for wary travellers.

They say: “Look at the reviews and make sure they seem to talk about the same place you are booking.

“If the listing says anything about contacting the host outside of Airbnb before booking, DO NOT – this is a well-known scam.

“Look at the listing – if it seems “too good to be true” (aka luxurious penthouse for a super low rate) it probably is!”

Cody told of a few of his own typical red flags.

He said: “One of the most telling signs of a scam is an offer that seems too good to be true.

“Scammers often lure travellers with incredibly low prices or exclusive deals, so it’s crucial to approach such offers with caution.

“You should also be wary of poor website quality – legitimate companies invest in professional sites.

“Grammar errors, broken links, or missing contact details are all signals for scam sites.

“Additionally, travellers should watch out for pressure tactics that push you to act immediately; authentic businesses respect your decision-making process.”

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