Free Educational Safety Tool

Learn to Spot
Rental Scams

Free educational guide to help you identify potential red flags in vacation rental listings. Take our interactive quiz to learn what to watch for.

🎯 Take the Safety Quiz

Answer 8 questions about your rental listing to learn about common warning signs and assess potential risks.

100% Free No Data Collection Educational Purpose

Safety Checklist

Example Assessment

Verified Host Profile
✓
Realistic Pricing
✓
Few Reviews
âš 
Safety Score 7/10

This is an educational example only

100%
Free Tool
8
Safety Questions
Client
Side Privacy
Learn
Red Flags
Warning Signs

Common Red Flags

Learn to identify warning signs that might indicate a problematic listing.

Suspiciously Low Prices

Prices significantly below market rate (50%+ discount) without clear explanation may indicate a scam.

  • Compare to similar properties
  • Check seasonal pricing norms
  • Be wary of "too good to be true"

Off-Platform Payment Requests

Hosts asking you to pay via wire transfer, gift cards, or outside the rental platform's system.

  • Always use platform payment
  • Never send gift cards
  • Avoid wire transfers

New or Unverified Host

Host has no reviews, recently created profile, or lacks platform verification badges.

  • Check registration date
  • Look for verification badges
  • Read existing reviews carefully

Stock or Stolen Photos

Professional photos that look too perfect or appear on multiple listings may be stock images.

  • Use reverse image search
  • Look for consistent style
  • Ask for recent photos

Pressure Tactics

Host creates urgency ("book now or lose it", "other people interested") or pressures quick decisions.

  • Take your time to decide
  • Don't rush payments
  • Trust your instincts

Poor Communication

Host avoids questions, gives vague answers, or communication feels unprofessional or evasive.

  • Expect clear responses
  • Ask specific questions
  • Watch for inconsistencies
Educational Tool

Self-Assessment Checklist

Use this checklist to evaluate rental listings yourself. All checks happen in your browser - no data is sent or stored.

Host has verified profile badge
Platform verification adds credibility
At least 5+ positive reviews
Reviews from real guests indicate legitimacy
Price matches similar properties
Compare with other listings in the area
Payment stays on platform
Never pay outside the rental platform's system
Host responds professionally
Clear communication without pressure tactics
Photos appear authentic
Not stock photos or stolen from other listings
Property details are consistent
Description matches photos and location
Cancellation policy is reasonable
Standard policies, not overly restrictive
How to Use This Checklist

Review your rental listing against these criteria. The more boxes you can check, the safer the listing appears. If you can't check most items, consider looking for another property.

Helpful Resources

Additional Protection Tips

Learn more about staying safe when booking vacation rentals.

Before Booking

  • • Research the property address on maps
  • • Read all reviews, especially negative ones
  • • Verify host identity through platform
  • • Check property ownership records if possible
  • • Use credit cards for payment protection

Red Flag Actions

  • • Report suspicious listings to the platform
  • • Never share personal financial information
  • • Avoid paying via wire transfer or gift cards
  • • Don't fall for urgency or pressure tactics
  • • Trust your instincts - if something feels off, it probably is

Communication Tips

  • • Keep all communication on the platform
  • • Ask for recent photos of the property
  • • Clarify check-in/check-out procedures
  • • Get written confirmation of all agreements
  • • Save all messages and receipts

Payment Safety

  • • Only pay through official platform systems
  • • Use credit cards for fraud protection
  • • Verify payment amounts match the listing
  • • Be cautious of last-minute payment changes
  • • Document all transactions thoroughly
FAQ

Common Questions

Stay Safe When
Booking Your Next Trip

Take the interactive quiz to learn how to identify potential scams and protect yourself from fraud.