WARNING PROJECT: FESTIVE SEASON/VACATION ACCOMMODATION SCAMS

Isabel Spies
2 days ago
5 min read

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A practical, no-nonsense guide for South African citizens.

Holiday rental and vacation-stay scams spike around the festive season and school holidays.

Scammers use fake listings, hijacked ads, bogus host profiles, cloned websites,

and pressure tactics to steal deposits, banking details or entire holiday payments.

Specialised Security Services (SSS) warns every traveller: verify, verify, verify

and never pay outside a trusted platform or before you have confirmed the property actually exists.

WHY HOLIDAY SCAMS RISE DURING THE SEASON:

Demand surges at the end of the year and during school breaks and the Festive Season.
People book last-minute and often accept lower prices to save money — the perfect conditions for fraudsters.
Scammers are using more sophisticated tools (stolen photos, cloned sites, fake profiles and even AI-generated content) to appear legitimate.
Platforms and victims both struggle to keep pace.

RED FLAGS:

PHANTOM LISTINGS:
- Properties that do not exist or are already rented.
- The scammer takes the deposit and disappears.
HIJACKED ADS:
- The criminals copy a genuine listing’s photos and details, then post a duplicate with their contact details and ask for payment outside the platform.
BAIT-AND SWITCH:
- The victim arrives and the property is very different (or occupied).
- The “host” asks you to accept a worse option or pay extra.
FAKE AGENCIES/OWNERS:
- Scammers use convincing websites, forged IDs and WhatsApp numbers.
- They request immediate deposits to secure the booking.
PHISHING/PAYMENT FRAUD:
- Scammers use links that mimic booking sites or requests to pay via EFT to a private account; once paid, your money and details are exploited.

REAL INCIDENTS AS EXAMPLES, EXPOSED IN THE MEDIA:

FAKE "VILLAS" VICTIMS (SOUTH AFRICA, REPORTED JANUARY 2023):
- Holidaymakers in SA paid for what they thought were legitimate villas, only to discover the bookings were bogus when they arrived.
- Victims were left without accommodation and out of pocket.
- This incident is a typical example of phantom listings and bait-and-switch tactics.
SAPS PUBLIC WARNING (19 DECEMBER 2023):
- The South African Police Service publicly warned travellers to watch for holiday accommodation scams, especially last-minute offers, and urged verification before paying.
- This is an ongoing operational concern for SAPS.
RISE IN RENTAL FRAUD (2025 REPORTS):
- Media reports in 2025 indicate a marked rise in rental and holiday-booking fraud, with criminals becoming more creative and organised — a trend watchdogs and real-estate commentators have highlighted.

MEMORABLE SSS SCAMMERS:

PRACTICAL RULES TO AVOID HOLIDAY SCAMS:

BOOK VIA THE LEGITIMATE PLATFORM AND NEVER OFF-PLATFORM:
- If a host asks you to pay outside Airbnb/Booking/Trusted agent (e.g., by EFT to a private account), treat it as a red flag.
- Reputable platforms have secure payment flows and dispute processes.
VERIFY THE ADDRESS AND THE OWNER:
- Do a Google Maps search of the property address; reverse-image the photos (Google Images or TinEye) to check whether the photos are stolen.
- Ask the host for the physical street address and a phone number you can call.
CHECK REVIEWS AND HISTORY:
- New listings with no verified reviews are risky. Look for consistent, date-stamped reviews and cross-platform mentions.
PREFER ESTABLISHED AGENCIES AND ACCREDITED AGENTS:
- Use professional letting agents with verifiable registration and references.
- If an “agent” resists sharing registration or proof, walk away.
DO NOT BE RUSHED OR PRESSURED:
- Scammers create urgency (“only today”, “other guests waiting”) to force mistakes.
- Take time to verify.
PAY SECURELY AND GET RECEIPTS:
- Use the booking platform’s payment system or a credit card that offers chargeback protection. Keep transaction records and screenshots of listings.
MEET THE OWNER/INSPECT ON ARRIVAL IF POSSIBLE:
- If you can’t see the property in advance, at least confirm identity on arrival and pay the balance only after you inspect the rental.
BE WARY OF SOCIAL MEDIA/WHATSAPP GROUP OFFERS:
- Community groups are commonly used for fake listings.
- Verify any leads from social media with independent checks.

IMMEDIATE STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE BEEN SCAMMED:

PRESERVE EVIDENCE:
- Screenshots, payment confirmation, chat logs, the listing URL and any bank details you were given.
CONTACT YOUR BANK IMMEDIATELY:
- Request a recall or lodge a fraud report; ask about chargeback or tracing options.
- If funds went via EFT, alert the bank asap.
REPORT TO THE POLICE (SAPS) AND GET A CASE NUMBER:
- Use the SAPS victim support desk and report cybercrime to the Hawks or the SSS cybercrime unit if necessary.
- A police report is needed for many recovery channels and insurance claims.
REPORT THE LISTING TO THE PLATFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION BODIES:
- Platforms can remove listings and may assist with refunds; report to the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) or relevant consumer body as appropriate.

Holiday travel should be joyful, not traumatising.

SSS urges South Africans to treat holiday-stay bookings like any high-value transaction:

verify thoroughly, use secured payment channels, do not respond to high-pressure tactics, and report anything suspicious immediately. The combination of increased demand, clever fraudsters and new technologies (including AI) means that even polished listings can be fake — always check facts and keep your money safe.

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This channel is important in delivering insights into the latest crime trends, awareness, warnings and the exposure of criminals.

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Regards,

Mike Bolhuis

Specialist Investigators into

Serious Violent, Serious Economic Crimes & Serious Cybercrimes

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