Accommodation Scams in Johannesburg

Fake Airbnb and Guesthouse Listing

Fraudulent short-term rental listings targeting visitors to Johannesburg advertise well-photographed properties in Sandton, Rosebank, and Melrose at below-market rates. After payment is made outside official platforms — often via EFT or WhatsApp — the host becomes unreachable or the property does not exist at the listed address. Victims arrive at night with no accommodation, sometimes in unsafe neighbourhoods.