Scam attempts and what to look for

Identifying and dealing with scam attempts

View Latest Scam Attempts

Since Direct Holiday Lets was established in early 2007 we have received a number(not too many thankfully) of scam attempts whereby owners are targetted by supposed holiday home renters. Although we do make every effort to prevent this it is impossible to prevent scammers from manually contacting owners directly via the contact forms.

This problem happens with all holiday rental listing sites and is not exclusive to Direct Holiday Lets. Unfortunately the internet does seem to attract many scammers and unsavoury types to say the least. The more prominent Direct Holiday Lets becomes on the internet with good search engine rankings, the more visible we will be to scammers.

Fortunately most scam attempts are very obvious and can be spotted straight away. They normally contain some of the following:-

• Poor use of english (Although its true that not all renters will use english as their primary language)This can be due to the fraudster having to resort to using online translation programs to help write their emails.
• Email is written in ALL CAPS
• Mention the rental of an apartment when your property is clearly a villa.
• Talk about the urgency of getting back to me as quickly as possible so that I can make payment which I am just dying to give you.
• Often say they are uncontactable via telephone(Basically they dont want to be traced)
• Use a free email account that can't be traced by whois registration which would be the case if they had their own domain name. Normally hotmail or yahoo email accounts.
• Scammers often try to play to your sentimental side by saying that its a gift for close friends who have just got married or that they are bringing their family with 2.5 sweet children etc etc. This is to help make you drop your guard.
• Quite often they will not show any interest or ask questions about the property such as proximity to the airport, facilities, and local sites etc.

The main scam attempt is the overpayment method. This is how it works:-

1. You receive an email enquiry via a holiday rental listing site stating that they would like to rent your holiday home
2. The scammer will then ask you how much for a certain period.
3. Once you have given them the account to make the payment too they will make the payment BUT will pay too much. So for example if the payment should be for $1500 they might transfer say $3000 dollars into your account. Great right?
4. What they will then do is to contact you and request that you transfer the difference back to them immediately. They will normally request this within 2 weeks of you receiving the money.
5. Once you have paid them the difference they will then request their initial payment back via their bank(as the money will not have cleared)
6. You will be left out of pocket by the tune of $1500

In most cases this probably wont happen to you but there is every possibility that it may so please be careful when dealing with renters when accepting payment.

SO REMEMBER:-

1. Read the email - Does it sound like a scam attempt?
2. Has the enquirer included a contact phone number? If so CALL THEM!
3. Are they using a free internet email account? Hotmail or yahoo.(not neccessarily an induction that they are a scammer)
4. Using poor english in their enquiry?
5. Overly stress that they are a doctor or religous person(As they can obviously be trusted more than anyone else)
6. DO NOT MAKE ANY PAYMENT BACK TO THE RENTER UNTIL THEIR INITIAL PAYMENT HAS CLEARED IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT!!!!

If you are in ANY doubt about the validity of any enquiry, please refer to this page, as we will be adding common scam attempts to the bottom of this page to make you aware of any ongoing scams.

You may also call or email Direct Holiday Lets if you feel the enquiry maybe a scam attempt. We will then be able to advise you further.

I know this can sound a bit frightening but these things happen on the internet everyday to thousands of people and many are caught out and lose lots of money. I dont want any of our customers to become the victims of such attempts.

If you stick to the above you should be fine and can rent out your holiday home risk free.

LATEST SCAM EMAILS

November 2008

Full Name: Ramirez Morgan
Email: rmorgan.rmorgan@yahoo.com
Phone: +447031840037
Message: Hello, I am Ramirez Morgan from London, England. I saw your apartment for rent and i\'m interested in making enquiry. I have a client {a couple} who is coming to live in your apartment for the month of February 2009 (8th-28th of February). They will be staying in your apartment throughout their stay for the weeks. I want you to get back to me with the neccesary informations about the apartment. Please confirm rates and availability. I await your response. Best Regards. RAMIREZ J. MORGAN.

May 2008

Full Name: Mr Larry
Email: gost.inc2006@yahoo.com
Phone: +447045768868
Message: Hello, I will like to rent this apartment you have.Send me details with Pic and your last asking price for 1 month.I will be coming over alone and i need the Apartment for 1month that will be June1st - June31st how much will that cost me. I Hope to hear from you soon. Mr Larry.

Full Name: albert
Email: albertbrown555@yahoo.com
Phone: 44
Message: I AM A CITIZEN OF UNITED KINGDOM AM REVREND PASTOR I WAS POSTED TO WEST AFRICA NIGERIA WITH MY FAMILY , PRESENTLY UKRAIN FOR A MISSIONARY TRIP AM INTRESTED IN YOUR ADVERT FOR RENT.I WANT TO BOOK FROM 30TH JUNE 2008 TO 30TH JULY 2008 MY FAMILY IS 4 IN NUMBER SO LET ME KNOW IF THE APARTMENT REVREN BROWN

Full Name: Dr Ken Williams
Email: kenwillagency2@yahoo.com
Phone: +44 (0) 1573 767810
Message: GOOD DAY, MY NAME IS DR KEN WILLIAMS OF KENWILL AGENCY,LONDON.I WANT TO MAKE A RESERVATION FOR A GROUP OF CHRISTIAN DELEGATES COMING FOR A SEMINAR/CONFERENCE IN YOUR CITY FROM 1ST TO 15TH OF JUNE,2008. KINDLY GET BACK TO ME VIA EMAIL IF THE DESIRED DATES ARE AVAILABLE. REGARDS, DR KEN.

April 2008

Full Name: walcourt oneil
Email: walcourtoneil@yahoo.com
Phone: 0000000000
Message: Good Day, I am Mr walcourt oneil,I am working in a construction company, My company will be sending me to your Area for a consignment that will take place in June 2008 and i will like to stay in your appartment for 1week period... I am the only one in number and i would like to know the total cost for 1week period and some description of the Appartment..... I hope to hear from you soon Thanks

February 2008

Full Name: Kute Smith
Email: kutesmith2008@yahoo.com
Phone: ..................
Message: Hello, I am SMITH and am a business man and my daughter will be needing an apartment,, so I would like you to let me know how much you will be charging per month.Therefore try to get back to me as soon as you can, I hope your price will be moderate and affordable.I look forward to receiving your response as soon as possible... SMITH...

January 2008

Full Name: allexanthony
Email: allexanthony101@hotmail.co.uk
Phone: +447024016440
Message: HELLO , HERE IS TO INFORM YOU THAT I NEED A RENT FOR MY 4 WEEKS HOLIDAY STARTING FROM 01/04/2008 TO 30/04/2008. THAT IS WHY, I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU DIRECTLY FROM MY BASE HERE IN UNITED KINGDOM, SO THAT YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OF THE TOTAL COST FOR THIS SHORT TIME IN ORDER TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR THE PAYMENTS ONTIME BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT IS DELAYING ME FROM BOOKING MY HOLIDAY TICKET FOR NOW.. SO THAT IS WHY YOU NEED TO GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR THE PAYMENTS TO BE MADE ON TIME. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AND PLEASE DONT HESITATE TO CALL ME AT ANY TIME IF THERE IS ANY INFORMATION PLEASE. +447024016440 OR +442074741892 . CHEERS....... allexanthony101@hotmail.co.uk ALLEX ANTHONY....

DECEMBER 2007

Full Name: RICHARD ANTHONY
Email: RICHARDANTHONY231@HOTMAIL.CO.UK
Phone: +447024016440
Message: HELLO , HERE IS TO INFORM YOU THAT I NEED A RENT FOR MY 4 WEEKS HOLIDAY STARTING FROM 01/02/2008 TO 28/02/2008. THAT IS WHY, I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU DIRECTLY FROM MY BASE HERE IN UNITED KINGDOM, SO THAT YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OF THE TOTAL COST FOR THIS SHORT TIME IN ORDER TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR THE PAYMENTS ONTIME BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT IS DELAYING ME FROM BOOKING MY HOLIDAY TICKET FOR NOW.. SO THAT IS WHY YOU NEED TO GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR THE PAYMENTS TO BE MADE ON TIME. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AND PLEASE DONT HESITATE TO CALL ME AT ANY TIME IF THERE IS ANY INFORMATION PLEASE. +447024016440 OR +442074741892 . CHEERS....... RICHARDANTHONY231@HOTMAIL.CO.UK RICHARD ANTHONY......

Featured Holiday Rentals

If you would like your property featured click here

Rustic house with Italian charm	From £250 per Week
This is a traditional rustic house with considerable Italian charm.‘Casa Rosa’ is situated in a quiet private road surrounded by olive groves and friendly neighbours. It is very child friendly,...
Europe > Italy > Marche/Abruzzo Ref: 412

Villa with swimming pool, to 100 meters of the sea	From €300 per Week
Single villa, to 9 Kms from CEFALU, with swimming pool, field of calcetto, great garden and parking inside the villa
Europe > Italy > Sicily Ref: 935