6 Tips for Avoiding Vacation Rental Scams

Real Estate Blog

rss logo

RSS Feed Archives

2026 | 8 Posts
- February | 4 Posts
- January | 4 Posts
2025 | 48 Posts
- December | 4 Posts
- November | 4 Posts
- October | 4 Posts
- September | 4 Posts
- August | 4 Posts
- July | 4 Posts
- June | 4 Posts
- May | 4 Posts
- April | 4 Posts
- March | 4 Posts
- February | 4 Posts
- January | 4 Posts
2024 | 48 Posts
- December | 4 Posts
- November | 4 Posts
- October | 4 Posts
- September | 4 Posts
- August | 4 Posts
- July | 4 Posts
- June | 4 Posts
- May | 4 Posts
- April | 4 Posts
- March | 4 Posts
- February | 4 Posts
- January | 4 Posts
2023 | 48 Posts
- December | 4 Posts
- November | 4 Posts
- October | 4 Posts
- September | 4 Posts
- August | 4 Posts
- July | 4 Posts
- June | 4 Posts
- May | 4 Posts
- April | 4 Posts
- March | 4 Posts
- February | 4 Posts
- January | 4 Posts
2022 | 46 Posts
- December | 4 Posts
- November | 4 Posts
- October | 4 Posts
- September | 4 Posts
- August | 3 Posts
- July | 4 Posts
- June | 4 Posts
- May | 4 Posts
- April | 4 Posts
- March | 3 Posts
- February | 4 Posts
- January | 4 Posts
2021 | 46 Posts
- December | 4 Posts
- November | 4 Posts
- October | 3 Posts
- September | 4 Posts
- August | 4 Posts
- July | 4 Posts
- June | 4 Posts
- May | 3 Posts
- April | 4 Posts
- March | 4 Posts
- February | 5 Posts
- January | 3 Posts
2020 | 46 Posts
- December | 3 Posts
- November | 3 Posts
- October | 5 Posts
- September | 3 Posts
- August | 4 Posts
- July | 4 Posts
- June | 2 Posts
- May | 4 Posts
- April | 3 Posts
- March | 4 Posts
- February | 7 Posts
- January | 4 Posts
2019 | 31 Posts
- December | 4 Posts
- November | 5 Posts
- October | 3 Posts
- September | 4 Posts
- August | 6 Posts
- July | 4 Posts
- June | 4 Posts
- May | 1 Posts
2018 | 1 Posts
- April | 1 Posts
2017 | 9 Posts
- November | 1 Posts
- October | 4 Posts
- September | 2 Posts
- August | 2 Posts

Tags

wagner realty Buying a House Area Information Community events For Buyers Longboat Key Things to do Local amenities Restaurants Dining Sarasota, FL Luxury Homes Home buying Home buyer advice Holidays Bradenton FL Venice FL Siesta Key, FL Sarasota County Manatee County Holmes Beach FL Lakewood Ranch Family fun Anna Maria FL Bradenton, FL Outdoor Fun De-Clutter Your Home Moving Suggestions Charities Ellenton, FL Englewood, FL Donation Centers Lakewood Ranch, Florida Parrish, FL Outdoors and Recreation Local businesses Fishing Event Festivals Home improvement Holiday giving Tiny House Living Bakeries Gardens Selling Your Home Home Maintenance Pet Friendly Homes Retirees Home Buying Retirement Homeowners Home Design Homeownership Single Mom Kid & Parent Friendly Suburbs Staging a Home interior design staging Technology Apps Lifestyle Downsizing Decorating DIY Before Selling Home Bradenton Beach FL Clean Your Home REAL ESTATE MARKET Buying the Perfect Home Vacation Rentals Home Inspections Dream Home Bird Bay, Fl Bird Key, FL Siesta Key Holmes Beach, Fl Renovations Palmetto FL Real Estate Investment Lido Beach, Fl REAL ESTATE AGENTS Hire a Realtor! Home Selling Home selling advice Home Selling Tips Press Release relocate New Neighborhood Curb Appeal Move venice First Time Homebuyers Energy Efficient Homes Home Supply Home Affordability Landscaping agents Credit Score Closing Costs Kitchen Renovations summer Charlotte County Punta Gorda Boca Grande downtown Sarasota architectural design historic art Renting vs. Buying Buying a Home "As Is" shopping shop local stores beaches Home Owners Associations downtown Historic home Home Inventories art museums museums galleries art gallery local art artists fall seasonal decor fall decor home decor Safety Tips Fixer Upper parks and recreation parks nature Find an Agent Insurance Policy spring music in the park tours venues Home Resolutions pets Open House Info Open House Questions Home Equity House Hunting Checklist Protect Your Home Weatherize Your Home Home Prices kitchen kitchen updates Market Conditions

Available Languages

English

March
15

6 Tips for Avoiding Vacation Rental Scams

March 15th, 2021 by Wagner Realty

Vacation Rental The Internet has made planning vacations a breeze. But along with the ease of booking travel and accommodation on the web, we've also seen a rise in the incidence of vacation scams.

It's all too easy to be fooled into thinking that a great bargain for a beautiful vacation property you're trying to rent is for real, when in fact, you've been had by scammers who have taken your money and run with it.

Here are 6 tips that can help you avoid vacation rental scams while you're booking your dream vacation.

Avoiding Vacation Rental Scams

Too Good to be True?
You know the old truism: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers try to reel you in with deeply discounted vacation rentals. All too often, these properties do not exist, or if they do, they belong to someone else. Be sure to check pricing on similar rental properties in the same location to see if the price is realistic.
Does the Property Really Exist?
As mentioned earlier, it's possible the property doesn't even exist. The scammer may have grabbed a picture from another website or is using an address from another property. You can try to verify that the property exists with a couple of Google searches.
Research the Owner
Research the owner's name, address of the property, and images. Check out the owner of the rental website, as well as the individual who pays property taxes. Beware if you are asked to pay rent in full by wire transfer.
Pay Attention to the URL
Scammers want you to move from the vacation rental website's communication system to a fake website. Check the URL.
Use a Credit Card
Scammers commonly ask for payment by Western Union, cash, check, or wire transfer before arrival. This is a great way to lose your money, without the possibility of recovery. A wire transfer allows the scammer to move funds to another bank account, close the first one, and take your money and run.
Rent a Property with a Traceable History
Best bet: rent from someone you know, or go by recommendation from a trusted source. Renting from professional management companies that specialize in vacation apartments and/or cottages is another good bet. Looking for a short-term rental on Florida's Gulf Coast? That's our specialty! We believe planning a vacation should be a breeze, that's why our team is here to help you find a short-term or long-term rental perfect for your family! We've been a top choice for Gulf Coast house and condo rentals for years.

Our experienced team is here to help with your vacation planning! With 8 offices, our team has plenty of Florida properties to choose from for your vacation. Plus, our Anna Maria Island office has been open for over 80 years!

Or if you're looking to move here permanently, our team can show you Bradenton and Sarasota homes for sale. Contact us today to book your trip in the Florida sunshine.

Categories: Wagner Realty

Tags: wagner realty, Sarasota, FL, relocate, Longboat Key, Area Information, Siesta Key, FL, Sarasota County, Vacation Rentals, Siesta Key

Related Markets: Longboat Key, Sarasota, Siesta Key

Disclaimer: All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information on this site was last updated 03/02/2026. The listing information on this page last changed on 03/02/2026. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of Delta Media Group MLS (last updated Mon 03/02/2026 3:58:56 PM EST) or Stellar MLS (last updated Mon 03/02/2026 3:46:11 PM EST). Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Wagner Realty may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy / DMCA Notice / ADA Accessibility

6 Tips for Avoiding Vacation Rental Scams

Contact Sherry

Login to My Homefinder

We have detected that you have cookies disabled.