Beware Of Fake Summer Rentals, New Yorkers: AG Warns

NEW YORK CITY — Airbnb careful, state Attorney General Letitia James warned New Yorkers this week.

“Summer plans can quickly melt if consumers aren’t careful when they book their getaway," James said in an official warning released Friday. "Vacation fraud happens every year, but there are ways to avoid it and protect yourself from getting burned.

"School might be out, but don’t forget to do your homework — take the time to verify the host and read online reviews to ensure that vacation rentals are real and not a dupe."

Every summer, millions of New Yorkers plan trips to escape the smog, the traffic, the heat, the firework noise, potential monkeypox (why do we live here again?) and look to rent idyllic homes they'll enjoy for two weeks before becoming wildly bored and running back to enjoy bodega cats, pick tulips on Park Avenue and dance in the streets (OK, yep, remembered why).

But without some savvy, it can be easy to fall prey to an online scammer, many of whom have set up shop here in New York.

• An Astoria family raked in $5 million running a sprawling network of illegal Airbnb rentals across three boroughs in 2019, according to the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement. Guests said in reviews that the rentals lacked windows, heat and hot water.
• Airbnb recently shut down a Bayside 'squatter' listing under pressure from neighbors and politicians who argued that people illegally renting the home were to blame for a recent shooting.
• Two Brooklyn fraudsters faced jail time in 2019 for trying to scam $1.3 million out of New York banks to fund a swingers club hunting lodge, according to the Attorney General.
• Amal and George Clooney claimed digs in a Soho townhouse that had been cited by the city for "illegal occupancy," according to city records.
• Irate neighbors hated a 'Porn Palace' in Pearl River, complaining the place was used for sex parties and porn videos.

So, to avoid the scam, here are some recommendations from your attorney general:

· Verify the host. Make sure the renter or host has a valid address and phone number.
· Make sure the listing has reviews and read the reviews. Be wary of listings on websites like Airbnb or VRBO that do not have any reviews listed. When reading reviews, check for multiple reviews that repeat the same phrases — that could be a sign that the reviews are fake.
· Check that the photos have not been stolen from another website. Use reverse image search of photos of the rental to ensure that the photos have not been listed on another website.
· Communicate only through the listing site before booking. One way that scammers try to trick consumers is by first posting a listing on a site like Airbnb or VRBO, and then requiring you to communicate directly with the host outside the website or app to book the listing. Do not share your email address or phone number with the host or renter before your booking is accepted.
· Only book with a credit card or debit card. Use verified payment sources such as a major debit or credit card, which can be traced in the event something goes wrong. One advantage of using a credit card specifically is that you have certain protections under the Fair Credit Billing Act, which allows you to dispute unauthorized charges.
· Only make payments through the listing site. If using a site such as Airbnb or VRBO, make all payments through the site, as they may be able to refund you if you are later defrauded.
· Never make wire payments or cash payments. NEVER make a payment using a wire transfer service or money transfer service such as Western Union, Money Gram, Zelle, CashApp, or Venmo.
· Rent security deposits. You may be asked to make a security deposit. Generally, you cannot be required to pay more than one month’s security deposit. The owner can apply the security deposit to cover any damages caused by you or unpaid rent but otherwise must return the deposit to you at the conclusion of the rental.
· Know your rights. It is illegal for a host to deny a vacation rental to you based on your race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, disability, or marital status. If you believe that you have been discriminated against or harassed based on any of these protected classes, you can file a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights.

Any New Yorkers who believe they were defrauded by a summer rental host or provider can report it to the Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Frauds Bureau.