'Strangers coming to the house': California woman wants answers after her home was used in a fake rental scam
A Rosemead, California, woman says she's had strangers arrive at her front door after a scammer falsely listed her home as a short-term rental online.
'We found out our house was listed on Booking.com,' Alexis Cavish told KTLA 5 News in a story published May 16. 'We are not renting out our house.'
Cavish says she doesn't even have an account with the website. The address on the listing was hers, however, it included photos of another property, and was priced at nearly $400 per night. She's had to turn away visitors looking to check in with booking confirmation emails in hand.
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'Luckily, so far, the people have been really nice,' Cavish said. 'But they're strangers coming to the house where I have kids.'
She criticized Booking.com for publishing listings without any verification.
'I'm frustrated because the company is not doing its due diligence,' she said. 'Why doesn't the owner have to prove some ownership before charging people money to stay?'
According to KTLA 5 News consumer reporter David Lazarus, this type of fraud is becoming more frequent.
'It's a common enough scam that there's a name for it — short-term rental scams — and it's most common on Airbnb and Booking.com,' Lazarus said in the report.
These scams can involve criminals creating fake listings using either stolen or generic photos and attaching them to real addresses. Some booking platforms rely on automated systems, which can allow fraudulent listings to go live without being flagged or verified.
The rise of digital platforms and third-party payment apps has made it easier for scammers to exploit homeowners and renters. In cases like Cavish's, the fraud is a financial and safety concern.
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Lazarus warned travelers to proceed cautiously when booking short-term stays online.
'In terms of any payment, communication, don't leave the platform,' Lazarus said. 'So, if the listing says they want you to pay with Zelle or Venmo or some other digital payment plan, and especially if they ask for crypto, walk away.'
Another simple precaution is to cross-reference the property's address with Google Maps. If there are exterior photos of the building in the listing and they look different, that's a major red flag.
One more tip is to verify hosts and read reviews carefully. When a listing lacks reviews or seems too good to be true, it just might be.
For homeowners, checking periodically to ensure their property isn't being misused online and setting up Google alerts for their home's address may help catch scams early.
Meanwhile, if you find a suspicious listing, consider reporting it to the platform. Some platforms have dedicated channels for reporting fraud, and flagging a suspicious listing can prevent others from falling victim.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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