Dream vacation or nightmare? This question is difficult to answer these days. The Internet is full of tempting offers for holiday homes and apartments. But what if behind the beautiful photos and detailed descriptions there are fraudsters who are just waiting to rip off gullible vacationers?

Detecting fake holiday homes and apartments

An example: The Luhmer family wanted to book their dream vacation in a chic finca on Mallorca with its own pool. They came across what was supposed to be the perfect holiday home on the website Fincacheck.com. But despite the apparent seriousness - including extensive imprint and the friendly landlady Maria Fernandez - it was a fraudulent offer.

The trap springs shut

When the family asked, the landlady explained that she could offer her fincas cheaper because she was self-employed part-time. After checking on Google Maps and the apparent location of the dream home, the family decided to book it.

Unfortunately, they only received the first warnings via the Internet after booking. The consumer advice center's fake shop finder also sounded the alarm. Despite assurances from Fincacheck.com that everything was fine, no one could be reached personally.

A hoax – and many duplicates

Further research revealed that there were a variety of similar scam sites. For example, the website Mach-Finca-Urlaub.com, which used exactly the same offers and the same logo as Fincacheck.com, just under a different domain name. And it didn't just stop at fincas on Mallorca - holiday apartments in Germany were offered on the website Wunschurlaub24.com under the name of another landlady, Anne Kuhnholz.

How to avoid fraud

The good news is that there are ways to spot and avoid such fraudulent activity.

  1. Use of tools to detect fake shops: Check the provider in the consumer advice center's fake shop finder or on warning sites such as Watchlist Internet .
  2. Be careful with advance payments: According to the German Holiday Home Association, an advance payment of more than 10 to 30 percent is a warning signal.
  3. Verification of the provider: The German Holiday Home Association offers a seal as a security feature. Make sure you can click on the seal - only linked seals are real.
  4. Booking portals as a safety net: Some booking portals such as Travanto or Fewo-direkt are even liable in cases of fraud.

If you suspect that you have become a victim of fraud, you should report it to the police immediately. According to the State Criminal Police Office, the clearance rate is between 30 and 50 percent. Your vigilance and use of fraud detection tools can help ensure your next dream vacation doesn't turn into a nightmare.

Holiday homes and holiday apartments: How to recognize fakes and fraud

Source: SWR market check

Also read: The hidden dangers of sugar dating: A look behind the curtain


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