Condo Rental Miami Florida

Condo Rental Miami Florida

Condo Rental Miami Florida

Posted on: December 09, 2011 - 11:12 am
by Admin

When traveling to Miami for a holiday with family or friends, vacation rentals are a great alternative to a hotel. Not only can they end up being more affordable than a hotel, and offer more room to move, they can also give visitors a taste of what it’s like to live in Miami – to do their own shopping and cooking, and to feel like they’ve come home at the end of the day.

Unfortunately for some people their dream of relaxing in their own little piece of Miami comes to a crashing halt when they realize the house, condo or apartment they paid for either doesn’t exist, or isn’t actually for rent. There are a number of Miami vacation rental scams taking money from innocent holiday makers, but the good news is they can be outsmarted.

Common Miami Vacation Rental Scams

One of the most common Miami vacation rental scams is simple but effective. The fraudster takes a photo of a property that is either for sale or rent through a reputable agency, and then places an ad for it on vacation rental websites. After paying the deposit, or worse, the amount in full, the victim discovers the property either isn’t at the address they were given, or has someone living in it when they arrive with their luggage.

When the victim tries to contact the fraudster, they soon discover that they are no longer returning their calls or emails. Unfortunately for a lot of victims, there is often no way to retrieve their money and they simply have to check into a hotel and try to salvage their vacation as best they can.

While not as dramatic as having nowhere to stay at all, other holiday makers have had their vacation marred by discovering the property they rented is nowhere near the beaches or sights they were looking forward to visiting. Or that the bargain price they agreed on did not include a long list of hidden charges and fees.

Other scams involve taking the deposit and then saying that the cheap property is no longer available, but the deposit can be put towards more expensive accommodation. Then there are those who simply take the deposit and run.

How to Outsmart the Fraudsters Behind Vacation Rental Scams

First, people should make sure the property exists, is available to rent, and that the person they are dealing with actually has the right to rent it out. An internet search on the property can reveal if it fits the description on the ad, thanks to interactive satellite maps, and where available, Google’s Street View.