Are You Protected from Vacation Rental Scams?

According to police, at least 15 people in Coachella Valley in Southern California were the victims of a vacation rental scam. According to police, two Palm Springs men – Michael Maloney, 49, and Matthew Wehling, 45 – were arrested and will likely be arraigned today.

Avoid vacation rental scams by dealing with established vacation rental managers.

Police say they used websites, including HomeAway and Vacation Rentals by Owners, to list homes they did not own or manage. Allegedly, they took down payments on these homes and kept the money for themselves. When their unsuspecting victims finally showed up to the homes they thought they rented, they discovered they were scammed – definitely not the way they wanted to start their vacations.

This situation brings to light a major security issue with renting homes directly from the owner. One way to avoid these issues is to rent from a professional vacation rental manager (VRM). Vacation rental managers are active members of their communities. They’re often members of their local chamber of commerce. And, they’re rated by the Better Business Bureau. But, even more importantly, they have a brand to protect.

Most all VRMs are established and trusted. When you rent from them, you can trust that the property exists, is as advertised, and is available for the time you booked it. And, if for some reason you have a problem, they’re ready and available to help you – not hours away as is the case with many owners who rent their vacation homes.

Vacation goers should also consider looking on RezSecure.com as an alternative to sites that advertise homes by the owner. RezSecure.com only lists trusted vacation homes from trusted vacation managers. The site lists property from a number of management companies from across North America and beyond, so there are plenty of options. One thing managers like is that when their properties show up in the search, their logo/brand is attached – something sites like HomeAway and VRBO do not allow. It’s beneficial to both the buyer and the property manager. VRMs work hard to establish a good reputation. And, buyers want the security of renting from a trusted manager.

But at this point, none of that can help the innocent victims in Coachella Valley. Even if the victims somehow get reimbursed for the money they lost, they still had their vacations ruined – and there’s no way to erase bad memories or go back in time.