Question 1

What is the "Vacation Rental Listing Fraud" scam in Charleston?

Accepted Answer

Scammers scrape photos from MLS real estate listings of homes for sale in the Charleston area and post them as short-term rental properties on Craigslist and third-party sites. After contact, they request payment via Venmo, Cash App, or wire transfer for a property they do not control. TripAdvisor forums and the BBB have documented Charleston-specific complaints spanning multiple years. Book exclusively through Airbnb or VRBO and never take communication or payment off-platform. Reverse image search the listing photos to check if they appear on real estate sites. Reject any requests to pay by wire transfer, Zelle, Venmo, or gift cards.

Question 2

What is the "Fake "No Vacancy" Hotel Redirect Scheme" scam in Charleston?

Accepted Answer

Taxi and rideshare drivers who work on commission agreements with certain hotels falsely claim that the traveler's booked hotel is closed, overbooked, or "unsafe" and redirect them to a different property where the driver collects a finder's fee. The alternate hotel is often inferior and more expensive than the original booking. Confirm your reservation directly with your hotel before arriving. If a driver claims your hotel is unavailable, call the hotel on the spot to verify before agreeing to go elsewhere.

Accommodation Scams in Charleston

Vacation Rental Listing Fraud

Fake "No Vacancy" Hotel Redirect Scheme

Experienced a scam here?