What is the "Melbourne CBD Fake Short-Term Rental Listings" scam in Melbourne?

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Fraudulent short-term rental listings for Melbourne CBD apartments appear on secondary platforms and social media, typically targeting visitors during the Australian Open tennis, the Melbourne Cup carnival, and the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Albert Park. Listings use stolen photos from real apartment buildings in Southbank, Docklands, and the CBD, and request large advance deposits by bank transfer. On arrival, no booking exists and the "host" is unreachable. Book Melbourne accommodation through platforms with verified payment protection such as Airbnb or Booking.com, or directly with hotels. Never pay advance deposits via bank transfer to an individual. Verify the building exists at the listed address using Google Street View, and cross-check the host profile age and reviews before paying.

Accommodation Scams in Melbourne

Melbourne CBD Fake Short-Term Rental Listings

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